News

Panama City. Panamanian UNI affiliates joined a demonstration carried out on the afternoon of July 9^th, 2010 which began at “Nuestra Señora Del Carmen” Church, parading through the cities’ main arteries and ending in “Andrés Bello” Park, where a vigil is being held by environmental organizations and the Panamanian civil society.



The objective of the demonstration is to demand the government the cessation of the repression suffered by the Bocas Del Toro banana sector’ workers, and the ACP (Panama Canal Authority) building in Colon, where a death has been reported: Antonio Smith, affiliated to SITRAPBI Union, part of Convergencia Sindical (Union Convergence); among hundreds of reported wounded workers, the colleague Rebeca Barboi, Secretary of Gender Equality of SITRAIBANA, union affiliated to CTRP, is currently hospitalized. Repression has increased with the application of law 30 (also known as “sausage law” or “9 in 1”) which damages fundamental rights like the right to strike and union freedom.



According to our information, in Changuinola, 4500 workers of Bocas Fruit Company affiliated to CTRP, and 700 workers from the independent properties affiliated to Union Convergence, are currently on strike, and fighting for the repeal of this harmful law.



The demonstration peacefully developed, and the population remains expectant in relation to this unstable situation derived by the government’s hastiness in applying this law.



“We will continue to support the struggle of the Workers from Boca del Toro and Colón, we will not rest until we achieve the repeal of the law which not only affects unions but also all every civil society organization”, expressed the main speakers among whom there were professors, students, environmental organizations, prestigious leaders of the civil society, and leaders of Union Centrals.



“This will be the general trend of street struggle, there are various planning meetings organized for this weekend, we can foresee that the strength of the struggle will be increasing as time goes by”, expressed Pedro Hurtado, General Secretary of SITGRAF (Union of Graphic Workers of Panama”)



Participant organizations: UNTAS, security guards; SITGRAF, graphic workers, and SITPPLAS, plastic workers.

For further information contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org