Teachers, workers unions and taxi drivers announce protests

Teachers from public schools will gather outside the Labor Ministry at 2 p.m. on Thursday, at the same time that government officials meet with workers unions to discuss a draft bill known as the “Public Employment Law.”

Union representatives claim the proposed law would significantly decrease public employees’ salaries – especially teachers’ wages – by cutting public employee seniority bonuses, or “anualidades.”

Leaders from the National Association of Public and Private Employees will not participate in negotiations with government officials, and have chosen to protest instead. They also warned that “if lawmakers pass the bill they would cause a mess in the streets.”

On Tuesday, taxi drivers also announced they will take to the streets next week if the Public Works and Transport Ministry does not enforce a law preventing unpermited taxi drivers, known as porteadores, from working.

According to union representatives, thousands of taxis would jam the streets across the country.