National labor unions are expected to meet with President Laura Chinchilla later today to deliver an ultimatum. The unions want the government to approve a reasonable and equitable salary increase or face massive labor strikes that will not only involve public workers, but may also count with the support and solidarity of the private sector.

This is the third formal meeting between the public employees labor union leaders and the Executive Branch. According to sources who spoke to Diario Extra earlier today, the unions are not interested in a fourth meeting. They have rejected their monthly raise of 5,000 colones (about $10) and are demanding a 1.9 percent increase, which is below the inflation of the cost of living, to be paid retroactively to January 1^st of 2012.

The unions are also asking the government to transfer the oversight of salary from Autoridad Presupuestaria (the Budget Office) to a commission that will only focus on the interest of public employees. Should strikes take place, people can expect that public schools will close, as well as many governmental and public service offices.

Other Unions Warn of Possible Action

The public employees aren’t the only ones planning massive strikes. Shortly after the public employees rejected government proposals on Friday, the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP in Spanish) voiced its deep displeasure with an action undertaken by the Regulatory Association of Public Utilities (ARESEP) after the latter entity announced a 13 percent increase across the board on public bus fares.

The ANEP is alleging that the bus line operators and the ARESEP have a deal under the table, since such drastic increases are usually subject to public hearings. While people in Costa Rica who use mass transit enjoy some of the most inexpensive fares in the world, the ANEP believes that a 13 percent increase without negotiation is excessive and will only hurt the working class and low-income bus riders.

On a blog post appearing on the ANEP’s website, the labor union is demanding that the government publishes an explanation as to how this bus fare increase will benefit institutions like La Caja. ANEP is using strong language that indicates they may call on their membership to take action against these measures.