Orlando Mejía, Hondutel’s Union President, warned that if there is no adequate response to their claims, they will go to a general strike in the coming days.

“We have made the analysis at a national level, and also talked to the Confederation of Workers of Honduras. We believe this is the only way to depoliticize the institution,” he said.

According to Mejía, this year, Hondutel hired more than 700 employees for political reasons, and fired 600 essential technicians during the same period.

Mejia said at a news conference that if the company does not stop this type of harmful hiring, the unionized workers will initiate progressive measures that could culminate in a nationwide strike.

Romeo Vasquez, the company manager, has been criticized that he is being swayed by political pressures that are impeding reaching agreements.

Last March, President Porfirio Lobo appointed General Romeo Vasquez as manager of Hondutel, despite protestations that he played a major part in the removal of Manuel Zelaya from the office of the Presidency last year, and had strong political ties.