Dairy company workers win 18% raise over 4 years

Workers and the Estrella Azul company reached an agreement, which allows the lifting of the week-long strike decreed by the Workers’ Union of the Blue Star Products Companies (Siteea).

Siteea reached an agreement with the representatives of the company, in which the salary adjustment of 4.5% per year is established and reaches 18% in four years. In addition, it was reported that the company agreed to recognize the salary adjustment retroactively from March 2021 and deliver an additional contribution of $80 as compensation for the strike days.

“Even when the economic situation of the company remains in a difficult position, Estrella Azul will make monetary efforts for the benefit of the entire national economic ecosystem,” said the company in a statement announcing the restart of operations.

The Minister of Labor and Labor Development, Doris Zapata said that, despite the fact that arbitration had been decreed in this conflict, the dialogue table continued to establish agreements. The talks between the parties ended in the morning hours of Friday.

Subsequently, inspection personnel from the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development went to the company to verify the opening of activities, which occurred “without any novelty.”

The parties are already “notified”, which will allow progress in the work of the plant in Panama City and in the rest of the provinces, the minister said on TVN Noticias .

Estrella Azul, owned by Panama Dairy Ventures Ltd, a Central American business group, has 1,350 direct workers and generates 6,750 indirect jobs.