The Labor Court of the First Judicial Circuit of San Jose ruled that the strike of the employees of the National Production Council (CNP) is illegal because the strike is a mechanism to resolve conflicts related to labor situations and not of political order.

This is the first resolution of illegality that has been resolved of the 32 that were presented by different public institutions in relation to the strike that began this past September 10th in Costa Rica.

Sentence contained in file 18.002087-0173-LA-8 page 2 reads: “The strike in question is illegal (…). It’s a movement of national level that reproaches a bill of legislation, and this is not included within the relation between employees and employers. It is impossible for CNP, to satisfy its employees, even when they’d agree with them, since the institution cannot force the Executive or the Legislative branch to legislate in one way or another or propose different laws. The strike is designed to resolve problems between employers and employees and this is not the case. It has relation with a topic of national nature that involves many parts, labor unions cannot take advantage of the disagreement to protest its employer. If they want to march, they can do it. If they want to protest, the can do it. But this situation in fact is not a strike, from the point of view of labor law, and therefore is illegal and cannot carry out during work hours”.

Rogis Bermúdez, Executive President of CNP, was satisfied with the ruling of the Court and stated “We are pleased because the sentence is clear in relation to the illegitimate right to strike, we are awaiting that the sentence is firm to apply the necessary disciplinary measures”.

CNP has a total 518 employees, out of which 78 were taking active part in the protests.

At this point, the labor union can present an appeal, and it’s not until this is resolved that the sentence is considered “firm”.