The streets of downtown San Jose were filled Wednesday with the traditional May 1 march of the unions, as members of the most important worker’s unions in the country took Avenida Segunda to express their opposition to economic and employment policies of the Government of Carlos Alvarado.
Among the complaints of the unions were value added tax (VAT) that goes into effect on July 1 and the government’s proposal to restrict public sector union strikes.
For the Asociación Nacional de Empleados Públicos y Privados (ANEP), the VAT will impoverish the working class.
The Asociación Nacional de Educadores (ANDE) reproached the bill to eliminate prolonged public sector strikes, like the three month strike of last year, and prohibit essential services from striking.
The day began at the Parque La Merced, where protesters gathered and walked along Avenida 2, making their way to the Legislative Assembly.