Costa Rica’s Public Sector Unions Plan Massive Strike Action

Costa Rica’s labour movement said Wednesday that they are evaluating a nationwide strike call next month, in protest of the government’s decree of the 0.43% wage increase for the public sector.

The leaders of the Asociación Nacional de Educadores (ANDE) – the largest of the public sector union – met Wednesday, and according to the Ana Doris González, president of the teacher’s union, the Asociación de Profesores de Segunda Enseñanza (APSE), the agreement to strike was by unanimous agreement by all the unions.

González said another meeting is set for Feb. 24 to define the steps for a strike in the second week of March.

On Monday, the union bringing together the five police forces of the country – Fuerza Pública (police force), Policia de Tránsito (traffic), Migración (immigration), Policía Aeroportuaria (airport) and Policía Penitenciaria (prisons) announced they would join the protest.