Workers from the public sector attend a vigil at Plaza de la Democracia during a strike called by the unions to protest against a tax reform project in San Jose, Costa Rica on November 7, 2018.
The negotiations to end the strike of the workers from the public sector of Costa Rica came to a dead end this Monday, after the unions refused an agreement mediated by the Catholic Church to depose the strike.
The government and public sector unions, which have been on a strike for three weeks, postponed a meeting to discuss a preliminary agreement to lift the strike, the Catholic Church said this Sunday.
Today marks one week since unions around Costa Rica called for an indefinite strike to protest a proposed tax-reform bill. Carolina Hidalgo, president of the Legislative Assembly, called on lawmakers to start debating the bill today as protests enter their second week.
President Carlos Alvarado urged the Catholic Church and university presidents to serve as mediators in talks with the unions that have been protesting a tax-reform bill since Monday.
Costa Rica's President Luis Guillermo SolÃs on Wednesday denied that he or anyone else from his administration had previously reached an agreement with public unions over a national strike held last Monday.
The call for a nationwide strike by public workers’ unions on Monday had only moderate support. But it did lead to the cancellation of at least 86 surgeries at three hospitals.
If you're driving in Costa Rica's capital Monday morning, there's a good chance you'll need a little patience. Several public services unions united in a group called Patria Justa – a "Just Homeland" – are mounting a general strike starting at 6 a.m. that could snare traffic at several points in the capital and beyond.
Transporters offering services at Costa Rica's docks say they are being exploited by multinational companies that make them work excessive hours and pay unfair rates.
