Panama interior teachers plan Monday strike

Frustrated with waiting for a government response to demands made a year ago, over 9,000 teachers from remote areas of Panama will strike on Monday, August 2.

They plan to picket the Ministry of Education headed by Lucy Molinar to protest the conditions they endure in schools often lacking basic facilities like electricity,  and school equipment.

Union spokesman Martin Vásquez said the Ministry had failed to act on 17 demands made by the teachers in August 2009. The union expects the Ministy to issue a response on Monday or the strike could be extended.

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