The labor unions rejected the proposal of the national deans’ council (Conare) and the Episcopal Conference to act as facilitators of dialogue to bring the general labor strike affecting the country since last Monday, September 10 to an end.

The information was provided by the president of Conare, Marcelo Prieto, to national newspaper La Nacion, “The problem we have is that the leaders of the labor unions informed us that they would not accept our help to act as facilitators of dialogue. The first condition for us to mediate and act as facilitators is that both parties are in agreeance with the mediating organizations. In this case, Conare and the Episcopal Conference were going to act as facilitators, but they communicated to us this afternoon (Sept. 15) that they had resolved they would not accept the mediation”, said Prieto. (https://bit.ly/2MBbXZq)

The decision of the labor unions was communicated to Prieto by Albino Vargas, leader of the National Association of Public Employees (ANEP).

Prieto also affirms he already informed the Government of the decision of the unions.

Labor Unions informed through their social media channels that the strike will continue for indefinite time, they consider their movement has gained support and even celebrate some of the economic loses the movement is causing:

“We are applying a lot of pressure, by just stopping for some hours the operation of the port (Moin), the country stops receiving millions, so let’s keep going with more strength”, states the post published by the National Association of Educators (ANDE) and signed by the labor union of Limon, in the same they call to protests today, Sunday, September 16 in Moin at 10 a.m. and in front of the state refinery, Recope, in the afternoon.

Limon has been one of the provinces most affected by this movement, facing road blocks in different locations and acts of vandalism, which have had a negative impact in tourism, commerce, and the operation of the ports despite the efforts of the Government to maintain a normal operation of these.