Cámara Panameña de la Construcción (CAPAC) Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Construcción y Similares Infrastructure & Construction construction strike union conflict worker union construction sector Increased wages wages Real estate development Wages calculation Widening of the Panama Canal collective agreement construction contractors

Panama: New Construction Strike Threat

Although companies are willing to make adjustments from 2% to 4% in the three years that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is in effect, the union wants more.

Monday, April 14, 2014

On April 23, work in the sector could be halted if companies and the union can not reach an agreement that satisfies the workers' union.

Erasmo Cerrud, deputy secretary of the National Trade Union of Workers in the Construction Industry and Allied Partmers (Suntracs) and chief negotiator for the workers, told Prensa.com "that the construction industry has investments worth 15 billion dollars, and wages earned by workers do not reflect the increase in the cost of living. "

Eduardo Rodríguez, director of the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (CAPAC), indicated that the only way to reach an agreement with Suntracs, was for the union to "come down from where it is, and adjust to reality."

Source: Prensa.com