Police Break Strike Action In Port of Limón
- by crv.staff
- 22.10.09
- 12:49 PM UTC
- Filed in Costa Rica
Photo of Port of Limón: www.japdeva.go.cr
Source: InsideCostaRica.com
With the support of the police, authorities of the Junta de Administración Portuaria y de Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente Atlántica (Japdeva), finally were able to resume port operations at Moín after dockworkers paralyzed dock operations in Costa Rica’s Caribbean port of Limón.
The strike action also prevented the docking of a 1.900 passenger cruise ship, in addition to cargoes of fruit standing by in containers and shippers concerned about their goods reaching the North American market.
The strike also affected may of the independent workers of the area, all who depend on the Limón docks operating.
The cruiseliner only docked for a few minutes to let off a passenger who had suffered a heart attack, taking him to Limón’s Tony Facio hospital before being transferred to a San José hospital.
The work stoppage is expected to continue today, when police action is expected again to open the ports. Francisco Jiménez, Japdeva president, says the situation will continue to be difficult until the union decides to call off the work stoppage.
The ministro de la Presidencia, Rodrigo Arias, said yesterday that just the loss of the cruiseliner cost the local economy some ¢110 million colones, the amount estimated that tourists would spend in the area on taxis, food, crafts and other purchases.
Arias added that some million more are lost when the docks are still.
The strike comes at the worst of times, a time when the Costa Rican government is courting private investment for the area in the tune of us$900 million dollars from private investors to modernize the port and boost tourism to the area.
The problems between the dockworkers and the Arias government has been ongoing for years and the government has been unable to keep the problem out of the headlines.
The dockworkers say they want more money in the form of higher wages.
In Tuesday’s action they blocked three outgoing ships from leaving the port of Moín and two from leaving the port of Limón. Incoming ships were standing by waiting for a break in the strike to dock.
The Japdeva union says the work action is not sanctioned by them, saying that the action is by a small group of workers, about 50 of the 1.400 dockworkers, taking the unjustified and irresponsible action.
The Cámara de Productores y Exportadores de Piña (Canapep) – pineapple growers and exporters – say that a prolonged strike action could negatively affect pineapple exports, where up to 2.3 million cases can be lost in a single week.
For his part, Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, urged Japdeva to find the finances to get the port working again.
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