72-hour national strike by teachers and workers

Unions of teachers and Panamanian workers announced this Wednesday at a press conference at the University of Panama a national work stoppage for 72 hours, starting Thursday, from 9:30 in the morning.

The announcement came at the end of the General Assembly of Teachers, in which the members said that the measure arises from the lack of response by the Executive Branch to the 32 proposals they presented on freezing of the high cost of food, fuel, unemployment, education, health and solutions to the Social Security Fund’s Disability, Old Age and Death (IVM) program, among other issues.

Wednesday’s event brought together MiBus drivers —who have already announced another strike for July 17—, carriers, groups of UP students, peasant organizations, movements of native peoples and the fishing sector, members of the Single Trade Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs), the National Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (Conusi) and the General Central of Workers of Panama (CGTP).

The announcement of a national strike by teachers and workers comes on the same day that representatives of the Executive and the Ministry of Education (Meduca) set up the “High-Level Work Table” to solve the problems demanded by the union members.