Varela wakes up to WYD strike threat

The concerns of Panama President, Juan Carlos Varela over delays to his flagship construction projects, which he hopes to unveil in the closing months of his administration, came into the open on Thursday, May 3.

He called on striking construction union (Suntracs) workers and the employers’  guild (Capac) to reach an agreement this weekend.

The call came  a day after Suntracs leaders had announced a general assembly for May 14, by which time the strike  will be close to its fifth week, putting a dent into his hopes of having  Metro Line 2 and the new Tocumen Airport  terminal up and running  for  World Youth Day (WYD) and the visit of Pope Francis in January next year with an expected influx of hundreds of thousands  of pilgrims.

Both projects are in the hands of Odebrecht of bribery infamy, and a previous call for a metro speed up because of WYD added millions to the cost. Expect more.

The strike started  on April 17  after six months of stalled negotiations and has  paralyzed work on 260 projects  not linked  to WYD, but they got no mention

“We are already in a risky stage to finish on time the works we need,” said Varela, who added a few words for the families of 1,00, 000 workers subsisting on $50 a week strike pay.

Varela, frequently lampooned as a tortoise when action is needed, revealed that on Wednesday he held a meeting with the leadership of the Capac and the Minister of Labor, Luis Ernesto Carles, and will ask the negotiators to change the dynamics.

In the negotiations, Suntracs workers ask a salary increase of 11%. Capac has responded with a 1% offer which the union has labeled “crumbs”

The work stoppage is said to be costing the economy at least $30 million a day but so far no Capac members have been seen with begging bowls, while loan sharks are lobbying strikers.

Buyers waiting for the long-delayed keys to their new homes figure it’s business as usual.

Meanwhile, President Varela has a countdown clock to WYD  standing in Parque Urraca opposite his home to spur him to some arm twisting