The labor union strike affecting the state refinery (RECOPE) was declared illegal by the Labor Court which resolved that it did not comply with the requirements stated in the labor code that movements must be peaceful, the alternatives of conciliation must be exhausted, and it must have the support of a minimum percentage of employees.

The sentence was dictated by Judge Alexander Contreras Barrantes of the Second Judiciary Circuit of San Jose; judge Contreras concluded that the movement was not peaceful, which was evidenced in the blocking that affected the facilities of Recope in Ochomogo, notary minutes were included in which damages caused to the installations are described in detail.

The judge also stated that there is no evidence or proof that prior to going on strike the movement had the support required by law and finally, he considered that the labor union did not comply with the obligation of exhausting the conciliation options available.

Another resolution was made public today, regarding the strike of the employees at the Postal service, which was also considered illegal in this case by Judge Ileana Castillo Porras; once again the reason given involved the non-compliance with legal requirements, specifically having the support of the percentage of employees as indicated on the Labor Code.

The president of the Board of Directors of the Costa Rican Postal Service, Jose Alexis Jimenez Chavarria, stated that this resolution is important “to make the labor unions understand that the country requires an urgent fiscal reform to successfully face the difficulties it currently faces and avoid a fiscal crisis”; Jimenez also affirmed that “The Costa Rican Postal Service will proceed with the process of deduction of the salaries as it corresponds to those that participated of the movement that has been declared illegal”.

In total, 10 sentences have been resolved of 32 filed, 9 have deemed the labor union movements illegal, and 1 (Institute of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (IAFA)) was considered to be legal.

Now the judges must resolve the appeals as they start coming and resolve in the term established by law for the resolutions to be firm.