Strikes

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.

Leaders from Costa Rica's largest public employee unions said they will go on strike to defend public employees and their rights.

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.

Union leaders say they expect some 10,000 workers will march from ICE's facilities in La Sabana to the Legislative Assembly on July 27.

About 150 people turned out Monday to a protest called by the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP) against proposed cuts to the national budget for 2015.

At least 15 public workers’ unions have called a large protest for Monday to oppose proposed budget cuts to public agencies and programs in 2015. The protest begins at Central Park at 8 a.m.

Legislators from the ruling Citizen Action Party, Broad Front Party and Social Christian Unity Party last week presented a bill at the Legislative Assembly to reform the country’s Labor Law, including a proposal that would eliminate a ban on strikes by some public workers, approved by the previous administration.

An Education Ministry report released on Tuesday morning indicates that of 3,751 public schools in Costa Rica, only 613 were functioning normally on Monday, while 1,394 were partially operational and 1,744 remained closed.