A dockworker strike in Limon, Costa Rica, on Oct. 26, 2014, was disrupted by more than 100 Costa Rican law enforcement officials protecting the monopolistic concession to APM Terminals. Photo by Juventud Frente Amplio.
Excerpts from the Journal of Commerce:
The International Transport Workers’ Federation condemned actions taken against striking Costa Rican dockworkers Tuesday, saying it will join the fight against APM Terminals after the strike at the Limon and Moin terminals turned violent.
Costa Rica police arrested 68 strikers at Puerto Limon who were blocking both of the port’s container terminals. Reuters reported at least 150 police officers were on site during the Oct. 22 arrests. The dockworkers, who protesting a $1 billion expansion concession granted to APM Terminals, have been on strike for seven days.
ITF president Paddy Crumlin said the government’s tactics were heavy-handed, and likened the incident to the 1998 dispute in Australia, when Patrick Corporation restructured operations and locked out union workers, a move backed by the Australian government.
“This is another example of profit coming first, with governments putting effort – and violent effort – into attacking the public sector,” Crumlin said in a press release. “Dockers’ unions worldwide will fight this.”