Limón Work Slowdown Could Convert Into Full Strike on Monday
Following the breakdown of talks between government and union officials, to put an end to the work slowdown at the Limón and Moín docks, there is a strong possibility that the dispute will escalate to a full blown strike.

Workers, through their union, are demanding, among other things, that local and state government repair the roads and bridges.

Limón's mayor, Róger Rivera, in a special meeting of city council, in addition to the problems with the workers of Japdeva (mainly dock workers), the garbage dump, will be closed down on MOnday.

An agreement has been reached and signed at Casa Presidencial on two other occasions and both times the agreement went nowhere.

Slowing things down or "tortuguismo" are truckers who blocking the streets to the docks, demanding government action. As the situation becomes more conflictive, it is expected that many more will join the slowdown and paralyze the Caribbean ports that is causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses, especially to fruit exporters, who need to get their product to markets outside of COsta Rica.

Joining forces are Mauricio Wilson,of the Unión de Transportistas del Caribe; Julio Jiménez, of the Asociación de Campesinos Limonenses; and Winston Norman, of the Federación de Trabajadores Limonenses, who say they are tired of the promises and no action by government.

Making matters worse is the police action earlier this week when anti-riot police were called in to clear the docks. Many resent their labour rights being trampled in this matter.

Israel Oconitrillo, a spokesperson for the Junta de Administración Portuaria y de Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente Atlántica (Japdeva), explaining Japdeva's position, said that the police action was necessary to remove the responsibility on Japdeva for the losses caused by the work action.