Costa Rica Power Union Plans Strike Today

Union workers say they will strike today to block privatization of the state telephone and power monopoly.

Managers at the Costa Rican Electricity Institute, which provides both phone and power service, said they were working to prevent an interruption in services.

The union, which represents 8,500 state telephone and electricity workers, opposes efforts by President Jose Maria Figueres to end the state monopoly and allow private investment in the utilities.