Panama Canal Workers Continue Labor Strike

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Telesur

Around 1,000 Panama Canal workers continue to strike, demanding better treatment and safety and labor conditions. The strike began Tuesday after talks broke down between the workers and the consortium in charge of the canal expasion.

The workers — members of Panama's National Workers Union of Industry and Construction (UNTRAICS) — claim that the consortium is not providing adequate pay and safe working conditions. Talks are expected to resume Monday.

"We demand the rehiring of our collegue who was dismissed following an disagreement with a manager and a more thorough audit that incorporates our requirements and desired outcomes,” UNTRAICS chief Abelardo Herrera told reporters.

Herrera told reporters that the union has requested the firing of certain foreign managers who have "arrogantly" exceeded their authority.

FULL story at link.



Panama Canal workers work on canal expansion. | Photo: Reuters


Read more: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Panama-Canal-Workers-Continue-Labor-Strike--20141227-0012.html

[Hubert Flottz]

1. I'd almost be willing to bet you that...

the contractors running that work are American firms.

I have worked on lock replacement jobs in the US and the work was brutal and the contractors were arrogant and greedy.

Solidarity, my Latin American brothers and sisters.