If you plan to drive, ride a bus or walk through downtown San José this morning, expect delays. Teachers’ unions and public universities are holding a one-day strike today with a march from Parque La Merced to the Legislative Assembly. The march is set to leave La Merced at 9 a.m., according to the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) and several of the organizing groups. One union call puts the gathering at 10 a.m., so crowds may build over the whole morning.
The route crosses the city center to the Plaza de la Democracia, in front of Congress. No official road closures had been announced by early Wednesday. Plan for slow traffic on the main avenues through the center and around the Plaza de la Democracia from mid-morning until the crowd disperses. If you can, avoid the area or give yourself extra time, much as you would have during last month’s university march.
Eleven unions and education groups have backed the strike, including the main teachers’ unions ANDE, APSE and SEC, university staff unions and the teachers’ professional association, Colypro. The University of Costa Rica and the National University (UNA) have authorized staff and students to take part. The National Technical University (UTN) has called on its students and staff to join.
Organizers say the 2027 budget falls far short of the constitutional target of 8% of GDP for education. APSE puts next year’s education spending at 4.9% of GDP. Unions are also demanding unpaid salary adjustments and payment of what the state owes the teachers’ pension fund, Jupema.
APSE says that pension debt still tops 44,000 million colones (about $97.6 million), even after a 30,000 million colón payment (about $66.5 million) announced by the MEP. The union also says about 50,000 million colones ($110.9 million) is missing from the 2027 budget to cover pension obligations.
Universities have their own grievance. Lawmakers approved a cut of 8,048 million colones (about $17.8 million) to the Special Fund for Higher Education (FEES) for 2027, part of the dispute that drove thousands into the streets in October. The National Rectors’ Council (CONARE) and the public universities say that money is part of 62,590 million colones (about $138.8 million) postponed in 2020 and 2021 that the government agreed to repay in installments, and that the first installment has not been paid.
University budgets also pay for public services outside the classroom, such as round-the-clock tsunami monitoring. Education Minister Leonardo Sánchez has rejected the unions’ arguments, saying their motives are more political than technical. He said that if classes are suspended, the ministry will ask the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) within 24 hours to seek a court ruling on whether the strike is legal.
If you have children in public school, the MEP has ordered all schools to stay open today. Schools must keep cleaning and security staff on duty and continue serving meals and special-education services, the ministry said. Whether your child’s teacher works depends on the school, so check with the school directly.
The strike comes as the government looks for savings across the board, with a revenue shortfall of $882 million squeezing courts, police and schools. Public schools have also lost 180,000 students in five years. The fight now moves to the final vote on the 2027 budget, which the Constitutional Chamber has barred lawmakers from approving in second debate before Nov. 29. Whatever happens on the streets today, that vote will decide how much money schools, universities and courts have to work with next year.
