Public prosecutors consider going on strike over cancellation of performance bonus

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SANTIAGO.- Less than a week after the Minister of Justice, Carlos Maldonado, defended the efficacy of the Criminal Prosecution Reform after it was questioned at the Chamber of Deputies, public prosecutors say that they have not ruled out possibly ceasing their activities to protest the cancellation of a performance bonus that had been promised to them.

The announcement, according to Radio Cooperativa, was made by the president of the Association of Public Prosecutors, Marcelo Leiva, after a change was made to the law regulating their official activities – eliminating the establishment of management goals and a performance bonus.

While referring to a possible strike, Leiva maintained, "decisions of this nature cannot be ruled out", and indicated that the regional leaders would meet tomorrow in order to evaluate potential measures and to define what steps will be taken.

Leiva emphatically placed the blamed the Minister of Finance, Andrés Velasco and the Minister of Justice, Carlos Maldonado, for the situation, claiming that they have the power to resolve the matter.