Tegucigalpa, June 1 (RFC)-- Honduran workers in 20 different public sector unions at the national level, including hospital workers, have launched a strike in the country’s two major cities -- Tegucigalpa and San Pedro -- to pressure authorities to increase their wages.

Workers warned that they were willing to continue the work stoppage tomorrow if the government does not respond positively, the Honduran daily La Prensa reported.  According to public sector unions, state workers have not received a pay raise for the past five years under the conservative National Party government, despite increases in the cost of basic goods in the same period.

Workers are now demanding a wage hike of about $88 USD per month.  The current average minimum wage is about $343 per month, although it varies by sector and size of the company.