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Public unions go on ‘indefinite’ strike Monday; fuel shortages possible

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UPDATE: SJO airport operating on reserve jet fuel as a result of strikes; asks some airlines to have enough fuel for return trip

 

October 26th, 2015 (ICR News) Despite last ditch negotiations by the Solis administration late last week, the union bloc of public sector workers known as Patria Justa launched an ‘indefinite’ strike Monday morning, which union leaders have promised to be one of the largest collective strikes in decades.

 

The bloc consists of the unions of Atlantic dockworkers, the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (RECOPE) workers union, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) workers union, and some 55 municipal workers unions across the country.

 

Other unions allied with Patria Justa who have confirmed their participation include the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP), the National Insurance Institute (INS) workers union (UPINS), the nurses’ union, and several others including unions representing health, education, and immigration workers.

 

Prison staff and guards, off-duty police officers, customs workers, and workers from the Ministry of Finance are also said to be participating in the strike.

 

Also participating will be the Union of Plantation and Agricultural Workers (SITRAP), and the Union of Oil, Chemical and Allied Workers (SITRAPEQUIA).

 

The RECOPE workers union announced that it would not distribute fuel to the country’s gas stations on Monday, which could lead to possible fuel shortages.  It was not clear if workers intend to resume fuel deliveries on Tuesday.

 

The Internal Workers Front of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) said that workers would only attend to “major breakdowns” in the country’s electricity and telecommunications infrastructure.

 

Atlantic dockworkers will also bring all port operations in the Caribbean coast to a halt, despite the fact that President Luis Guillermo Solis announced on Saturday that any disruptions in public services “would not be tolerated.”  Last year, Atlantic dockworkers paralyzed the coast’s ports for 15 days, causing significant economic damage.

 

The dockworkers union said that the blockade would not end with Monday’s protest and would last ‘indefinitely,’ while the country’s export sector is urging the government for forceful police intervention to keep the country’s Atlantic ports functioning to avoid a similar situation this year.

 

Municipal services such as garbage collection may be interrupted in some places as well, in addition to services provided at some public hospitals.

 

Union leaders are protesting proposed legislation that aims to regulate wages and salaries paid to public sector employees.

 

Commuters are advised to avoid downtown San Jose as thousands of striking workers take to the streets in protest.

 

UPDATE: SJO airport operating on reserve jet fuel as a result of strikes; asks some airlines to have enough fuel for return trip

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  • richard schlinder

    The answer is to sell these public companies to private investor companies with the stipulation that it not by an existing company already doing business in C.R. The reason is to encourage competition.
    This problem has occurred throughout central and south america for decades. Having the government be the largest employer in the country has always lead to these problems.
    Start with ICE than AYA than Recope. When C.R. receives the money,pay off the debt.

    • prdatki

      I could not have said it better, fire all of them and start over!

  • gc

    nice. the public employee unions declared war on Costa Rica. so peaceful.

    • costarick

      I didn’t see Albino Vargas’ name on the ballot when I voted in the last General Election.

  • costarick

    President Solis has stated that interruptions in public services won’t be tolerated during this current strike. Let’s see if this Government has “the right stuff” to correctly deal with these issues. Let me suggest the following check list:
    1. No pay for Government workers while participating in an illegal work stoppage, such as the current strike.
    2. Participating in three cumulative days of illegal work stoppage by a Government worker constitutes grounds for being declared in abandonment of his/her employment.
    3. Abandonment of employment would constitute immediate grounds for dismissal, with no severance pay and loss of pension benefits.
    There are many interns working in the Government, without permanent employment positions, who I’m sure would be only too glad to pick-up the slack.
    In my opinion, anything less would be a dereliction of duty by the Solis Government.

    • richard schlinder

      In the early eighties,PATCO the air traffic control people went on strike.Reagan said,get back to work or you’re fired. They did not but he did fire them.It was tough but with the help of management and military service people they got through it.

    • SDPUS

      What an intelligent comment. While I am typically a union supporter in the USA where they have been destroyed. Costa Rica seems to have the opposite of problems. People need to keep in mind that the pendulum often swings too far in both directions. The Billionaires control the USA Government. The Unions seem to have significant impact on the government of Costa Rica. We need honest and smart leadership policies to create a valid system of checks, balances and competition of the Public and Private worlds. They each can be easily corrupted. This is why politicians who play the center (50th percentile) typically win. Pulling us to extremes is outright dangerous for society in the long term. A “mixed economy” helps provide checks, balances and competition.

  • Ben

    I think right now the unions are acting like they have control over the private sector they do not. Most grocery stores in Costa Rica have there own trucks so there will be food on the selfs. ICE sub contractors are fixing power lines. Recope subcontractor are working so gas will be delivered maybe a little slow but will get there. I advise everyone to buy local. Now is the time for the president to layoff these Public sector mafia aka unions that use lies to steal from us honest people. SELL ICE.AYA,RECOPE EST AND PAY OFF DEBT AND BUILD ROADS AND SUBWAYS. LETS SEE IF THE PRESIDENT OF COSTA RICA HAS THE BALLS TO STAND UP TO THESE LAZY PUBLIC SECTOR UNION AKA MAFIA.

  • prdatki

    First execute the top 10 % of the Union and Management, then fire the rest no benefits no nada !

  • Luine Chambers Smith

    The crazy unions, are wreaking Costa Rica..There need to be some serious leadership here..I love Costa Rica,BUT..the monopolies , and unions are awful,no sense about how businesses are run..looks like they want to distroy the tourist industry..

  • james chavis

    The Country is moving towards Socialism. More government is 101 when it comes to corruption.

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