national

Strike passes peacefully as few problems reported

Noriel Gutiérrez/La Prensa

march:Relatives of people killed by diethylene glycol poisoning joined workers in a protest against the government yesterday. 1084768

The “warning strike” yesterday by union workers, doctors, educators, Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) workers and bus operators passed with relative calm.

There was less traffic on the city's roads this morning as few buses were circulating. Many schools were closed as parents decided to keep their children home.

Many hospitals were working with skeleton crews as doctors and CSS employees attended to only the most urgent cases.

Perhaps the sector most impacted by the strike was the construction industry. Many job sites were shut down completely, and most of the demonstrators who took to the streets during the day were waving red flags associated with the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Construcción y Similares (Suntracs).

Sergio Molina, of the Movimiento de bases transportistas y usuarios, said that 80 percent of the group's bus drivers supported the strike. The effect was mainly noticeable in the outer areas of the city. There, large crowds gathered at bus stops trying to find a spot on one of the buses that were operating.

“I have been here for an hour, and I have not been able to get to work because the buses are full,” said María Vergara at 7:15 a.m. as she was waiting for a bus at the Super Xtra in the neighborhood of 24 de Diciembre.

Demonstrators in Plaza Porras shouted slogans and hurled fireworks. In the crowd were Suntracs workers, CSS employees and 25 relatives of people killed in the diethylene glycol poisonings.

Mitzila de Ciniglio, a member of that group, said they supported the strike because “this is a government that is deaf, who can not hear the cries of people who die of neglect by officials, as happened to my father.”

Suntracs leader Saúl Méndez called the strike a success.