Pay talks deadlocked- teachers strike looms

Pay talks deadlocked- teachers’ strike looms

PANAMA TEACHERS  will meet on Monday, July 18 to  decide on strike action after three days  of dialogue  with government officials over pay, ended in deadlock on Thursday.

During the dialogue, the government presented proposed a monthly wage increase of $100 for each of the next three years, and then increases of $150 a month in 2017 and $150 a month in 2018, but teachers rejected both the offer  and instead, demanded a monthly salary adjustment of $300 in 2017.

The government said its offer was generous.

“This increase represents an important step for Panamanian educators in comparison with other countries in the region,” Minister of the Presidency Alvaro Aleman said.

The government also pledged to increase spending on education to address problems in infrastructure.