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International Mission verifies union situation in Panama

Published: 27 August 2010
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 Panama City. UNI Americas integrated the delegation of representatives of union organisations from various countries visiting the Republic of Panama, between August 24th and 26th, which is part of a Mission of verification of the Union Situation in Panamá, organised by the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW), carried out with the aim of making a field verification of the labour situation, after the serious events which affected the country during July, as a result of the government’s approval of the 2010 anti-union law 30, rejected by the labour movement and the organised civil society and that has taken may lives so far and left hundreds of injured. The international mission also seeks to support the union’s organising work in the Panama Canal enlargement works, especially inside the merging Unidos por el Canal (Joined by the Canal), a company in charge of most part of the execution of the project of enlargement of the water route.



The Verification Mission, integrated by Albert Yuson, General Secretary of IFBWW, Gerardo Martínez, Vice-President, Carlos Salguero, Regional Representative, Fiona Murie, Global Director of Labour Health, Fernando Serrano, Manager of the Building and Wood Federation (Spain), Jean P. Voets (ACV-Belgium), Gerardo Iglesias, General Secretary of the International Union of Food Workers (UITA), Bernabel Matos (UITA) and Raul Requena, Regional Secretary of UNI Americas, have fulfilled a broad work programme, which has included work sessions with a Panamanian Chamber of Building (CAPAC), the Office of the Ombudsman; The Presidency of the National Assembly, the UN Regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right’s, the Panama Canal Authority (PCA), the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Superior Bureau of the Labour Ministry and Labour Development.



During the development of the Union Situation Verification Mission in Panama, the international delegation expressed solidarity with the labour and social Panamanian movement, and manifested its deep concern as regards an environment of abuse and government intolerance, which has wind Panamanian society around a spiral, now revealing antidemocratic signs.



Oscar Valdeverde, representative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and officer of the ACTRAV Bureau for Worker’s Activities, participated in the journeys of verification in situ. Several union organisations participated as local facilitators: the Unique Union of Building Workers (SUNTRACS), the Union of Workers of the Cement and Derivatives Industry of Panama (SITICEDPA), and the National Federation of Building an Wood Workers of Panama (FENATRACOMAP) At the end of the process of verification a report will be elaborated, which will be broadly disseminated in the national and international levels.



For further information contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org