Police attacks protesters in the Ministry of Labor

Publié: 22 Janvier 2010
Google translate: 

On Friday 22 January, police forces attacked demonstrators who are in the Ministry of Labor in San José, Costa Rica while dozens of union members are locked inside the building, without the police allowing any entry, exit or any mobility inside the building.



The public agency was evacuated, although some workers were inside the building without being allowed to leave. The situation is tense, because it now even restricted to deliver food inside the building.



Labor Minister Alvaro Gonzalez refused to continue talks while handing over a document threatening to take steps "to maintain public order" in case the sit-in of the Ministry would not stop.



The unionists said they did not leave the building, because they have been willing to negotiate, but the Minister of Labor was the one who broke the negotiating table, even if the items included are perfectly legal.

Suing the President

The general secretary of the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP) said he reported the President, Óscar Arias to the Ministry of Labor for unfair labor practices.

In addition, they will go to the International Labor Organization (ILO) to denounce the government for violating the right of freedom of association and interference into union decisions for going against the ideas of the government.

Background

Dozens of workers and leaders of various trade unions appeared yesterday at the Office of the Minister of Labor, waiting for an official response from the Minister of the sector on a number of events linked to an illegal meeting of JAPDEVA workers on January 15. The meeting was pushed to approve the concession of the ports of Limon and to nominate a new Board of JAPDEVA Workers Union (SINTRAJAP).

The demands

  • Remove the lawsuit filed against the union Sintrajap in the Labor Court.
  • Recognize and ratify Sintrajap as the only legitimate union.
  • Reject the documents or minutes of the illegal workers' assembly.



Read more in related articles or the latest news in Spanish here or in the Blog of the Trade Union of Education Workers in Costa Rica.

For more information please contact: Gilberth Díaz, SEC: +506 8364 7285

Juan Carlos Zúñiga R., SITET: +506 8996 0277 or ivonne.jackelen@uniglobalunion.org