Costa Rican teachers to be barred from striking

Costa Rican teachers will be forbidden to go on strike, according to a bill that would define education as an essential public service.

Legislators from various political parties, and the government of Carlos Alvarado, support the measure, which would avoid the development of protest movements similar to those last year in which teachers were on strike for 86 days.

Under the proposed legislation, the wages of striking teachers would be docked, and in some cases there might be dismissals.

The unions oppose the proposal, which they describe as gagging legitimate protests.