Hundreds of public employees from Costa Rican schools, universities and hospitals on Friday morning marched from downtown San José to Casa Presidencial, in the southeast district of Zapote, to oppose government-proposed salary measures.
As the teachers’ strike entered its third week and a possible general strike loomed, Education Minister Sonia Mora announced an agreement with the Costa Rican Banking Association to pay thousands of teachers back pay dating back six months in some cases.
Some 7,000 elementary and high school teachers have not been paid since April 1 due to an administrative problem at the Education Ministry. That prompted leaders of teachers’ unions on Friday to call for a general strike starting Monday.
