CNUS union leader Rafael (Pepe) Abreu said on Monday, 11 February that the salary increases that are currently being discussed should cover all salaried workers, in both the private and the state sectors. He based his position in the wage talks on the fact that all basic foods prices have gone up since the tax reform, affecting the poor and the middle class. The union leader argued for an increase of 30% across the board and noted that if this is not done, the government will experience a decrease in its tax collections due to less spending. El Nuevo Diario says that wage talks at the Ministry of Labor will continue within the framework of the National Salaries Commission.