Unions leaders are threatening to call a general strike in late September or early October if lawmakers move forward with a bill that would eliminate public worker bonuses and cash incentives.
Hundreds of members of public employee unions took to the streets of San José downtown on Thursday morning to protest against proposed legislation that would eliminate special job perks.
Classes will be suspended at 95 public schools across the country and public hospitals only will attend emergencies and lab tests. Porteadores, or private chauffeurs, will also protest starting at 8 a.m.
Business leaders celebrated a court decision Friday that they say guarantees Costa Rica's public hospitals, ports and electricity grid will continue to function even if public sector workers are involved in a labor dispute.
According to the Ombudsman's Office, the number of complaints at public agencies increased from 82 in 2008 to 276 in 2011. The top targets of those complaints were doctors, teachers and police at the Social Security System, Education Ministry and Public Security Ministry, respectively.
Starting next month, public employees in Costa Rica will receive a salary increase ranging from 1.08 to 1.60 percent depending on profession. However, some unions are not happy with the amount.
A group of 21 lawmakers from five parties on Friday morning filed a complaint with the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, or Sala IV, challenging the constitutionality of President Luis Guillermo Solís' decision to lift a veto on a bill proposing reforms to the country’s Labor Procedures Law.
President Luis Guillermo Solís signed an executive decree Thursday that reiterates his government’s pledge to maintain essential services, including police and hospitals, and establish protocols to guarantee that these and other public services are not interrupted by labor disputes.
President Luis Guillermo Solís announced his decision to lift the veto on the controversial “Reforms of Labor Procedures Bill,” which would extend the right to strike to public-sector workers from hospitals, police and other services, during a ceremony at Casa Presidencial Friday morning.
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