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Strike resumes, workers reject offer

Social security workers blocked off main transportation routes to demand higher wages.

Jorge Fernández/LA PRENSA

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After nearly three hours of deliberation, the meeting between leaders of the social security workers union (ANFACSS) and directors of the institution, ended without consensus.

ANFACSS secretary, Eric Quintero, said the offer presented by social security system director, René Luciani, was not accepted "because it does not meet our expectations."

According to Quintero, the offer put forth is misleading, because it would grant a $150 bonus exclusively to employees who earn more than $1000, which represents a mere 20 percent of the payroll. The remaining workers, he explained, would be given a bonus of only 15 percent of their gross salary.

With respect to the $50 monthly increase, Quintero explained that, in reality, it would only be $18, as the administration would directly deduct some pending salary adjustments.

Some stretches of Transístmica remained closed throughout the morning while discussions were underway.

This, after widespread protests were reported over the past few days across several provinces of the country. Between fellow social security workers in Colon pursuing higher wages and residents from the Interior pleading with authorities for improved infrastructure upkeep, what was already considered a traffic crisis, was only exacerbated.

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