Fed up with what they're calling out-of-date equipment and poor working conditions, workers in the Nutrition and Equipment departments of the Pacific port of Puntarenas' Monseñor Sanabria Hospital went on a partial strike yesterday to demand improvements, according to Luis Chavarría, secretary general of the Social Security Workers' Union (UNDECA).
“There are a series of problems at the hospital that have been going on for about two years,” Chavarría said, citing insufficient kitchen equipment, such as blenders and microwaves, and poor infrastructure that makes for “deplorable working conditions and health risks.”
In the Equipment department, where tools for surgery are sterilized, there is a “great risk that workers could get sick from handling contaminated materials,” said a statement released by UNDECA.
Starting at 3 a.m. yesterday, workers went on a partial strike with the goal of convincing hospital authorities to lobby before the Social Security System (Caja) to solve these problems. A new, properly outfitted kitchen was among their demands.
So as not to completely disrupt the hospital's functioning, workers continued doing some of their tasks, including sterilizing tools for urgent surgeries and preparing food for patients; however, they did not prepare food for employees as usual.
Chavarría said a group of Caja officials was headed to Puntarenas yesterday afternoon to meet with hospital authorities. Depending on the outcome of these meetings, the union would decide how long to continue the strike, he said.
“We have asked authorities of the (Caja) for the urgent solution of this problem and we invite them to negotiate as soon as possible,” the statement said. |
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