Public Defenders have announced a strike for today, Thursday 14 December 2017, across the whole country to demand wage increases.
Spokespeople for the Movement for Salaries with Dignity and the National Association of Public Defenders say they have had no answer from the National Office of Public Defense (ONDP) on their requested salary increases. They have accused ONDP management of not allocating the RD$80 million line item in the budget created for the salary increases. Due to the strike most hearings in penal courts will not take place as in 75% of criminal cases the defendants are represented by Public Defenders.
The group is asking for a 40% increase, saying they have a very heavy workload with one single defender having up to 400 active cases.
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Hoy
14 December 2017
