Two Days Of Protests!

QCOSTARICA – For today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday) expect more traffic congestion, suspension of public services, such as medical appointments at hospital and clinics, classes and others, as thousands of public sector employees take to the streets of two days of protests.

The protest, days ahead of May 1, the day when the government renders its annual report to the legislature, is in defence of labour rights, defence of rights of the prison police and defence of collective agreements. The unions are also looking for increases in public sector wages.

“The protest is justified where there no room for to carry out the necessary social dialogue to address the issues in a timely, certain and expeditious manner. This is not the case, because we have the willingness to open dialogue,” said President Luis Guillermo Solis.

The President was emphatic in asking protests not to take violent action and not affect the normal day of work, school and clinics.

This morning, at 6:00am, patients with appointments at the Hospital Mexico, in La Uruca, found closed doors. Security guards promising doors to open, but no staff visible inside.

Protestors from some 40 different public sectors are expected to amass at the Parque Central by 9:00am and then move to the Legislative Assembly a few blocks away.