For wage hike Dominican Republic unions would pray, fight in the street

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s labor unions grouped in CNTD on Tuesday announced they will host simultaneous masses and prayers in 18 provinces on Tuesday to demand a 30% wage increase by executive order.

CNTD president Jacobo Ramo said the workers will be praying in churches from 4pm till 7pm, to also demand respect for freedom of association, the reinstatement of 31 air traffic controllers fired over a year ago from the Civil Aviation Institute among other grievances.

Ramos said he expects management bring a concrete proposal to Wednesday’s Salaries Committee meeting, and to no longer delay the pay raise “with baseless arguments and sit with the unions to discuss the increase.”

He said the masses form part of labor’s struggle, that he affirms will culminate with president Danilo Medina’s executive order to increase wages and pensions. “Employers must discard their big profits and spread it a little with increases on the salaries of its employees.”

He also warned that the unions will take their fight to the streets to prevent employers from imposing a Labor Code reform that eliminates severance pay and benefits of pregnant women and extend the working hours.