Bocas del Toro: Banana Union Leaders Meet with Panama Representatives in the Assembly

Panama City, Panama:  Banana union members from Bocas del Toro met this Tuesday with the board of directors and the six party leaders of the National Assembly. The meeting is taking place on the fifth floor of the new Legislative building.  Let us recall that the leaders of the Union of Workers in the Banana, Agricultural, and Related Business Industry and the Industrial Union of Independent Banana Producers traveled from the province of Bocas del Toro to Panama City for this meeting, as well as to receive a note from the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, on behalf of the Archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa. 

It’s important to note that part of this meeting is taking place because banana union members claim that Law 462, which reformed the Social Security Fund (CSS), disrupted Law 45 of 2017, which recognizes special rights and benefits for banana industry workers, including the possibility of early retirement . Therefore, they are calling for some changes and modifications and insist on the repeal of the reform to the Fund.  In that sense, the representative and leader of the Realizando Metas party, Alaín Cedeño, stated that they will listen to the leaders’ concerns. “We want to talk to them because we do want to see what the Assembly can do to pacify this country and for us all to work together for the development of what is most important, which is seeing how we all have jobs in this country and can support our families. That is the most important thing,” he said. 

“I understand it’s a matter of the banana law, so after we talk to them, we’ll have the conclusions regarding what this meeting has to do with,” he added.  The National Assembly is currently in extraordinary sessions, which were extended by the Executive until June 26.  President José Raúl Mulino said at a press conference last Friday that if the blockades in the province of Bocas del Toro were lifted, he would immediately send a bill to the Legislative branch with amendments to Law 45 of the banana sector.  To date, there have been no reactions or statements from the banana workers’ union leaders.

On Tuesday, Monsignor José Domingo Ulloa delivered the letter sent by President José Raúl Mulino to banana growers aimed at resolving the crisis in the province of Bocas del Toro.  Ulloa went to the Hotel El Panamá, where representatives of the Union of Workers of the Banana, Agricultural, and Related Companies (Sitraibana) were meeting to deliver the president’s letter of commitment.  The leader of the Panamanian Catholic Church confirmed that the banana growers accepted the letter and are awaiting the meeting with the board of directors and party leaders of the National Assembly.  “We have formally delivered the letter in which the president commits to reviewing this aspect of the law that pertains to banana growers; they have accepted it,” he said.  The archbishop mentioned that this is a first attempt at dialogue between the parties, clarifying that the Church will always serve as a bridge between the parties. 

The banana growers’ response to the president’s letter is unknown at this time; however, it has been confirmed that it is being reviewed for further consideration.  The banana growers will also meet with the expanded board of directors and the leaders of the National Assembly caucuses to find a solution to the conflict that has kept the province closed for more than a month.  The time of the meeting is still unknown, but it is estimated to be around 11:00 a.m. at the Legislative Palace.  The deputies were scheduled to meet with the Sitraibana leaders yesterday, Monday, but the latter did not attend, so it was rescheduled for Tuesday.  The Executive Branch has committed to submitting to the Legislative Branch the amendments to Law No. 45 agreed upon with the banana growers during the meetings with the ministers of state.