At 9 a.m. this Monday, September 10, the first effects of the general strike called by the labor unions are already being felt in some areas of the country, but not as badly as expected, at least at this hour.

Leaders of the labor unions called a country wide strike in protest of the fiscal plan that is currently being discussed at the Legislative Assembly, which includes going from a 13% sale tax to a 13% vat (value added) tax and eliminating salary pluses received by public employees.

The Government has announced they will be requesting the strike to be declared illegal, a process that takes time (a minimum of 3 days) since a full report must be filed and it’s a labor judge who has to make the final decision. President Carlos Alvarado also stated yesterday that the Government has taken measures to limit the effects of the strike, control the supply of fuel, and the operations of the ports and airports, prevent illegal roadblocks and assure the normal operation of essential services

Albino Vargas, leader of the ANEP labor union described the decisions of the Government to take over the ports and airports as “dictatorship”, he insists the labor unions are defending the rights of all Costa Ricans and that the Government has not been willing to negotiate.

So far these are some of the effects of the strike that could extend for a week according to the announcement of the leaders of the labor unions:

-General Cañas highway: protesters and red taxis are present in the highway connecting Alajuela and San Jose slowing traffic considerably, drivers report having been stuck for over one hour

– Mexico Hospital: national daily La Nación, reports that 40% of the staff of the Mexico Hospital in La Uruca are taking part of the strike. Other hospitals have reported working normally, the National Children’s Hospital assured they will NOT join the strike.

-Barranca, Puntarenas: a group of close to 50 people are protesting in front of the Costa Rican State Oil Refinery Recope causing traffic problems.

-Public Schools: labor union leaders reported 80% of the public schools are closed. The Ministry of Education already affirmed they will sanction all workers that did not show up to work.

-La Sabana and La Merced Park: employees of the San Jose Municipality and other members of labor unions are blocking some areas around La Sabana and a group of protesters is gathered in La Merced park in downtown San Jose.

-Train service: the Costa Rican Train Institute informed they are working normally, however, protesters are standing on the railways impeding the transit.

-Red Taxis: the red taxi service joined the strike and plan to slow traffic in different points of the country.

The labor unions represent close to 15% of the working force in the country.