Strike hits canal expansion, traffic

TUESDAY’S 24-hour work stoppage called by the construction workers union Suntracs caused an estimated $1 million in damages to the Canal Expansion project according to the Canal Authority, (ACP).

Work stopped on the construction of the third set of locks which was  already well  behind schedule.

“This harmed us greatly, not only the Canal but the country,” The ACP said about the strike, About 7,000 workers are employed on the Canal expansion.

GUPC, the consortium building the locks, said the work stoppage could delay the delivery of the project, It said the strike will mean that “it will be necessary to gradually return to the pace of work on the project.”

The locks were supposed to be completed in October 2014, but are now due to be delivered in April 2016. That date, however, has not been confirmed by the contractors.

Any more delays will mean that the Canal will not benefit from the revenues from the passage of larger vessels.

The strike halted work on projects across the country and brought increased pain to Panama City drivers as demonstrators slowed traffic on major routes.