https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/220321/suntracs-presenta-hoy-mitradel-declaratoria-huelga-capac-advierte-graves-perjuicios-traeria

The Single National Union of Workers in the Construction and Similar Industries (Suntracs) announced that this January 21 at 1:00 pm it will officially present the declaration of a national strike at the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel).

The Sunctracs called its members to an   indefinite general strike starting next April 4, after not reaching an agreement with the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) on wages for the 2022-2025 collective agreement, confirmed the general secretary Saul Mendez Rodriguez.

Capac, for its part, called on the workers of the member companies “not” to support the strike declaration announced by the union leaders, warning them of the serious damage of a strike in the current circumstances of the industry and especially since during the stoppage the workers will not receive their salaries.

Capac argued that “Suntracs proposes unaffordable wages above the real possibilities of the industry and construction companies and that they seek to achieve through the negotiation process and disinformation campaigns.”

For his part, Méndez affirmed that “we are not asking for handouts, but for salaries we console ourselves with the high cost of food, medicine, fuel, electricity, transportation and other basic needs of the worker and his family.”

The workers aspire to an increase of $0.70 per hour for the next four years, while Capac maintains an offer of $0.07 per hour for the same period in question.  

“…For social justice, equity and better distribution of the wealth that all of us who work generate, we demand increases in decent wages. This is our position as Suntracs,” said Méndez.

The negotiations between Suntracs and Capac began in September 2021. The Capac businessmen and the workers organized in Suntracs began to negotiate the collective bargaining agreement directly, and in January of this year they presented the collective conflict to the Mitradel, explained the union leader.

He indicated that the terms expired on March 8, and they are within 20 business days, for the union to declare a strike, if there is no agreement. Last Thursday, March 17, the Suntracs General Assembly declared an indefinite strike starting next April 4.

The 2018 Suntracs strike lasted more than 30 days, generating significant economic losses, with an impact of just over 1% on the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).