Transportation companies landed an agreement with authorities after eight days of strike, with over $1.8 million in losses.
According to the agreement, authorities will withdraw a $6 increase in the fumigation fee.
“The document also states that if Panama requires a fumigation or atomization service, it must be based on a risk analysis that considers adequate protection levels and the effect it might have over human beings”, reported Prensa.com.
Carriers have been on strike for five days now at the Paso Canoas border between Costa Rica and Panama; they reject an increase in fumigation fees.
On June 15, the Panamanian delegation of the OIRSA, a regional health authority, increased from $5 to $11 the fee charged to trucks when fumigating cargo trucks.
“Veranado Ríos, from the Transportation Union of Chiriquí, Panama, assured that this increase was put in place without consulting any business chamber, union or association”, reported Nacion.com.
Spirit’s pilots went back to work; the company will resume operations on Friday 18.
The pilots of the airline, together with the International Pilot’s Association (ALPA) announced that they’ve reached a tentative agreement with the company.
The new contract, unanimously recommended by the pilot’s union, must still be ratified by ALPA.
In order to compensate its customers for the time off the air, the airline is offering a special promotion, consisting on a $50 coupon and 5,000 miles for its Free Spirit customer program.
Truckers from both countries are protesting a $5 increase in vehicle fumigation fees and slow procedures in the customs office at Paso Canoa.
On June 15, Oirsa, a regional health authority, increased the phytosanitary fumigation costs at borders from $6 to $11.
An article in Prensa.com remarks that “Juan Carlos Segura, from the Costa Rican National Transportation Chamber, explained they decided to paralyze transport since yesterday at 8:00 for an undefined time, until this surcharge is removed”.
All the flights of the discount airline Spirit are cancelled, at least until June 17; its pilots demand a 30% wage increase.
Spirit has regular flights linking Fort Lauderdale with several Central American airports: Guatemala City, San Pedro Sula, Managua, San José and Panama.
The company’s business model is based on low labor costs, and has spent the last three years dealing with complaints from the union.
Despite a strike by Japdeva's dockworkers, private longshoreman from shipping companies are taking care of port operations.
The story is quite different at Port Limón, however, as all operations remain paralyzed.
Nacion.com reports: "... Japdeva authorities and union representatives are expected to meet today to find a solution to the strike, which has caused losses for $7.3 million and damaged tourism, as a cruise ship could not dock".
Workers from Japdeva have paralyzed port operations in Limón and Moín due to labor demands.
This measure taken by Japdeva, the state port administration entity, has prevented serving fruit cargo ships, and the arrival of a cruise ship.
Liroy Pérez, press secretary from the Japdeva Workers Union, stated that "port workers are striking due to unmet salary commitments, as there are two wage adjustments still pending", reports local newspaper La Prensa Libre.
The new Costa Rican government's proposal was rejected by the union, whose consent must be obtained for the concession of services to third parties.
The collective agreement that governs the relationship between Limón Port employees and JAPDEVA, the entity manager, has the force of law. Therefore, any project to hire third parties to perform tasks at the port must be formally approved by the union.
The "work to rule" tactics and other measures used by employees of the Caribbean ports of Limón have caused importers to move their unloads to Pacific ports.
At times of major crisis, some companies also choose to move their export products through the port of Pacific port of Caldera, near Puntarenas, even though they are destined for Europe.
Due to the risks associated with unloading at Limón or Moín, grain importers and others pay the extra cost of shipping through the Panama Canal to Caldera.