Canal expansion workers death causes stoppage

Safety issues continue to raise concerns among Panamam Canal expansion workers who on Friday April 13, stopped work for the day following the death of one of their peers.

The workers of the United Group Consortium For the Canal (GUPC) planned to return Saturday after the company declared Friday a day of mourning and began investigations into the death of a worker at 4:15 am.

The  fatality comes on the eve of a series of meetings, starting Monday April 16 between the consortium and the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development, to discuss a list of 43 points, raised  after a work stoppage of last January. Juan Arce, manager of GUPC workers said most of the points are related to safety issues for workers involved in the expansion. 

Another point that will be  discussed at the meeting is the payment structure. that the company makes GUPC. 

GUPC said in a statement that the victim is Luis Guardia, 37, who was killed in an accident involving slippage added in the tertiary industry section. 

The date for the completion of the canal expansion has already been moved back between three and six months. http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/canal-expansion/4138-canal-expansion-opening-delayed.html