Union leaders from the Education and Children ‘s Comprehensive Care Centers (CEN- CINAI) announced that they plan a strike to protest against the budget reductions proposed in the Legislature.
These centers provide nutrition services for children at social risk and they could lose about 16% of the budget aimed at the administrative level.
This number is around 310 million colones in operating expenses, which is related to transporting food to 620 centers.
According to Ivannia Espinoza, representative of the National Association of Public Employees (ANEP), this reduction would affect the transportation of food in remote areas. For example, communities like Chira Island, Lepanto, Jicaral, Los Chiles and Talamanca would be affected.
Espinoza said that there is an average of 70 children in each center and it could generate disadvantages regarding the fleet of vehicles and teaching materials in nutrition centers.
Representatives met to express their discontent with the initiative under discussion in the Legislature.
Similarly, they invited workers to join nutrition programs, because the cuts could threaten other departments.