Health authorities called to talk or face 30,000 walk out

THE LEADERS of 30,000 Panama health professionals readying to withdraw services have invited public health authorities to seek a rapprochement.

The National Coordinator of Guilds, Professional and Technical Health (Conagreprotsa) made the offer through its Vice President Alvaro Lozano, but he reiterated the call for a 48-hour strike, starting Tuesday, April 30, and with the participation of at least 30,000 employees.
"It's not about push and pull, it’s a matter of having will and we have it all set up, and we have never lost ", referring to the process of dialog.
The official said a committee is currently taking care to see all the requests of the 37 organizations of Conagreprotsa in order to collect and report on all previous agreements with the union that have been signed by representatives of the government but have not been met.
Regarding the possibility of canceling the call to strike, the leader said that the decision must be exercised unanimously by the Conagreprotsa board.
5000 striking nurses returned to work at midnight on Friday, April 26 after a four day stoppage of pay and working conditions. They are scheduled to meet the Health Minister and the head of Social Security on Tuesday. The health authorities claim there is no money to meet the nurses’ demands.