Strike Countdown Nears: Unions to Decide Sunday

The clock is ticking on a potential public service strike. Earlier this month, the Public Service Union gave official notice of their intent to take industrial action, and that twenty-one-day countdown is almost up. With the deadline just days away, Labor Minister Florencio Marin joined Thursday’s negotiations as an observer, keeping a close eye on talks between the government and the joint union team. Today, he told us the unions have promised a response to the government’s latest proposal by Sunday. And that response? It could determine whether the Ministry of Labor steps in, or whether the country braces for a strike.

 

Florencio Marin, Minister of Labor 

“We do have an obligation to start participating from the labor ministry. We have been asked to get ourselves involved, either to mediate or send it back to them to continue negotiations, or if need be to take it to a tribunal. That is where we are at right now.”

 

Reporter

“Is Sunday the cut off date?”

 

Florencio Marin

“No it is not. But the unions told the government side they will respond on Sunday. So form there we will know. One of the things in their letter they have wrote is that they have reached an impasse. And from what I saw in the meeting it did seem quite constructive in the conversation they had. I actually enjoyed witnessing it. But I have to wait until Sunday to see what the response is. I am hoping it is a positive one.”