The economic struggle of the working class in Panama
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- Construction workers, unemployed stage
protests
- Weekly Americas News Update, 26 January
1998. In Colon, 13 people were arrested on January 20 in
clashes between anti-riot police agents and construction
workers. The workers, represented by the 40,000-member
Only Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS),
were protesting contract violations and unfair firings of
workers by a construction company.
- Banana workers strike in Panama
- Weekly News Update on the Americas, 22
February 1998. On February 19 banana workers on
Panama's Pacific coast began an open-ended strike
against Chiriqui Land Company (CLC), the Panamanian
subsidiary of US transnational Chiquita Brands
International, to protest violations of the collective
bargaining contract signed last September.
- Construction workers protest
- Weekly News Update on the Americas, 5 July
1998. Members of Panama's Only Union of Construction
and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS) clashed with police at
several demonstrations during the week of June
22. SUNTRACS is demanding ratification of a 112-point
collective bargaining agreement with the Panamanian
Chamber of Construction (CAPAC).
- Canal Workers Demand Severance Pay from
US
- By Silvio Hernández, IPS, 7 September 1999. Workers
in the Panama canal zone are demanding 80 million dollars
in severance pay from the United States, as well as
permanent contracts for 2,000
temporary
workers by
December 31, when Washington hands the canal over to
Panama.