The strike was against a concession deal won by APM to run a new terminal, which effectively gave the new operation a container ship monopoly. This is contrary to Costa Rican law and would also endanger the future of the state-owned JAPDEVA port company, as some 70 per cent of its income comes from container handling.
SINTRAJAP's breakthrough came with the help of widespread support from the ITF and its affiliates, and with the backing of workers throughout Costa Rica. Several affiliates wrote to the Costa Rican president or embassies to condemn the violent arrests of SINTRAJAP members at the terminals in October and to urge the government to enter into dialogue with the union over the future of the ports. They included the ILA in the USA, the FNV in the Netherlands, the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen, the Estonian Seamen’s Independent Union and the SIU, Canada.
On 3 November, a delegation of 30 leaders and activists of Canadian maritime and transportation unions met the Costa Rican consul general in Ottawa. The delegation included representatives from the ITF Canadian Maritime co-ordinating committee, Canadian Maritime and Supply Chain Coalition, the ILWU, IDC, SIU, BCFMWU, ILA, Grain Workers Local 333 and BC Building Trades.
ITF Americas regional secretary Antonio Fritz said: “This achievement shows the power of national, regional and international trade union solidarity in a just cause, and the Costa Rica dockers should take great heart from it. We hope to see a proper negotiating framework that includes mechanisms to ensure the stability of JAPDEVA and the maintenance of resources that benefit the province of Limon.”
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