Teachers and Workers Clash with the National Police in March 21 Protests
Teachers, workers, and unions called a strike to reject Law 462, which reforms the Social Security Fund and other national issues.
On the morning of Friday, March 21, teachers from the Association of the Trade Union Movement of Educators of the Republic of Panama (Asomogre) and workers from the National Union of Workers in the Construction and Similar Industries (Suntracs) began a march in rejection of Law 462, which reforms, repeals, and modifies the Organic Law of the Social Security Fund (CSS). Most of the activities were held in Panama City or Colon. In the interior of Panama, there was very little disturbance. President José Raúl Mulino sent a message to the social groups demonstrating this past Friday, March 21, against the passage of the law reforming the Social Security Fund (CSS). “He who doesn’t work, doesn’t get paid,” were the president’s words, claiming that the same groups calling for the strike belonged to the CSS board of directors and were unconcerned about its financial situation. The president acknowledged that the legislative proposal “is not perfect” but represents a solution to the crisis facing the state and the Disability, Aging, and Death (IVM) program. He also noted that the right to strike of all citizens will be respected, but that the free movement of third parties affected by these closures will also be guaranteed.
Just a few meters from the start of the protest at the 4 Altos de Colón roundabout, clashes broke out between teachers, Suntracs workers, and National Police riot police, who impeded the protesters’ progress. The reason? The National Police claims that a call was made to the protesters to maintain free movement, but when this call was ignored, the riot police intervened. There were exchanges of blows between Suntracs workers and police officers. The confrontation resulted in the arrest of a union leader, Alberto Diaz Ramos.
Panama City, Panama: The Panama Teachers Association (Asoprof) announced on its social media a series of protest actions against the approved Law 462, which reforms the Social Security Fund (CSS). Teachers marched to the National Assembly on Friday in the capital. Sunday, March 23, they will meet at the Cinta Costera in Panama City. The union is calling for the repeal of the aforementioned law and reiterates that Panama “is not a mining country.”
On Wednesday, March 26, at 12:00 noon, they will hold a simultaneous national picket in front of the workplaces. On Thursday, March 27, at 4:00 pm, they will march from Porras Park to the National Assembly. On Friday, teachers and professors marched in the capital and in different provinces across the country. Other teachers’ unions, workers’ unions, and construction workers’ unions also joined the march.
