Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 8, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 8, 2018 Quote Construction in Crisis Construction activities in Panama have been paralyzed for 17 days, and even government intervention does not seem to have had an effect on the apparently immovable position of the workers' union. Friday, May 4, 2018 In a statement issued yesterday, the Panamanian Chamber of Construction announced the wages and benefits that would be obtained for construction workers, according to what is established in the collective agreement.The impact of the strike is already being felt on the development of large projects, such as construction of Metro Line 2, and the expansion of Tocumen International Airport. President Varela called on both sectors, builders and workers, to reach an agreement that will put an end to the strike. Prensa.com reports that "... The sectors have a bittersweet flavor with regard to the Executive's call, which could be interpreted as an intrusion in a delicate process in which wage increases for workers is at stake and the consequent effect on the finances of construction companies."See also "Central America: $1.6 billion in office construction""... Varela suggested that a wage increase of around 14% in four years, that is to say, a 3.5% annual increase." https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Construction_in_Crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 10, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 10, 2018 Quote Private construction down 48% in first quarter Posted on May 9, 2018 in Business, Panama, Panama Post Views: 174 Construction activity in the private sector of Panama fell 48 percent in the first quarter of 2018 in relation to the same period of last year according to data released on Wednesday, May 9 by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). The decline does not include State projects like Metro Line 2 and the Tocumen International Terminal 2. But the figures come in the midst of a construction workers strike that has dragged on for three weeks with employers Assc (CAPAC) and the Suntracs Union far apart on the issue of wages. Work has been stalled for three weeks on 260 projects involving some 120,000 workers. In the first three months of this year, 574,657 square meters were built between residential and non-residential works, 48 percent less than the 1.1 million square meters of the same period of the previous year. The biggest drop was recorded in the province of Panama, which includes the capital, with 54.4 percent, as they built 334,127 square meters compared to 732,018 square meters in the first quarter of 2017. In the Caribbean province of Colón, the square meters constructed by the private sector to between January and March totaled 47,780 square meters, 339.1 percent more than the 10,882 in the same period of last year. The construction sector is one of the economic power engines of Panama and in 2016 it accounting for 14.9 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016,. Panama’s economy is the most dynamic in the region with an economic expansion of 5, 4 percent in 2017. http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-4/private-construction-down-48-in-first-quarter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 11, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 11, 2018 Quote Varela wants strike arbitration as key projects stall Posted on May 10, 2018 in Panama Post Views: 117 Panama’s president, Juan Carlos Varela, has called on the leadership of the construction workers union (Suntracs) to invoke arbitration if they don’t reach an agreement with employers’ guild (Capac) during the upcoming weekend. The strike was called on April 18 after six months of negotiations on a work contract for the next four years but, after hammering out an agreement on scores of issues the talks finally broke down over pay demands. “The continuity of this strike is untenable for us, “said Varela, and the workers should return to their jobs no later than May 15 while the dispute goes to arbitration He said on Thursday. May 10 that the strike is affecting major works of the government as well as the time of delivery. Delays in the construction of Metro Line 2 and the new terminal at Tocumen International Airport are of particular concern to the president who lobbied hard to bring Pope Francis and World Youth Day (WYD) to Panama in January and providing a world stage swan song for his administration a coincidental few months before the next elections. Millions of dollars had already been allocated to speeding up work on the Metro to have it partially operating in time for the anticipated flood of pilgrims and the last thing Varela needs is a further request from Odebrecht for more funds to complete the job in time as the countdown clock, installed in Parque Urraca opposite the president’s home reminds him that time is running out. He said on Thursday, May 10 that Suntracs has the viability to request arbitration because it was the one that requested legalization of the strike “We make the request firmly and respectfully,” he added. But that attitude may change if the feuding parties don’t move closer to a deal. They have failed to narrow the gap between the union demand of 11 percent raise each year of the agreement and the Capac offer of two percent, made after Suntracs flatly rejected the initial offer of one percent as “crumbs,” from a table that has made billions for developers during the boom years http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/varela-wants-arbitration-as-key-projects-stall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Doug Posted May 11, 2018 Share Posted May 11, 2018 I assume this strike is the reason why the construction of the new Panamonte bridge has stopped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 12, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 12, 2018 Quote Panamanian businessmen support salary negotiation without pressure of arbitration Fri, 05/11/2018 - 17:13 The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) said on Friday that the negotiation between the union and the construction employers for a wage increase should be developed “without time constraints or the pressure of arbitration,” as the Government already proposed to end the strike that has affected the sector for more than three weeks. The Panamanian president, Juan Carlos Varela, described on Thursday as "unsustainable" the strike that the Single Trade Union of Construction and Allied Workers (SUNTRACS) has held since last April 18, and demanded that entity and the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) to ask for an arbitration if next Sunday they have not reached an agreement on salary increase material. The Panamanian Minister of Labor, Luis Ernesto Carles, had already raised the arbitration option just over a week ago, stating that it can only be activated if the parties to the dispute so request, but SUNTRACS immediately rejected that possibility. The activation of the arbitration process would automatically end the strike that entered this Friday in its 24th day, with daily losses of about 30 million dollars according to business spokespersons and the discontent of many workers who complain that they are not receiving the strike subsidy of about 50 dollars per week, by the union, on time. The president of the CCIAP, Gabriel Barletta, said in a public statement on Friday that “in the last 40 years, Capac and SUNTRACS have successfully negotiated more than 10 collective agreements”, to which he attributed “that the construction workers have the highest salaries and benefits in Latin America.” Barletta said that the Chamber, which groups more than 1,600 companies from 5 economic sectors of Panama, recognizes “the Governments’ concern about the economic cost and delays in public works caused by this strike.” “The CCIAP estimates that every salary increase must consider inflation and current productivity to maintain the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry, workers’ jobs and the economic activity that derives from it,” said the business leaders. At the beginning of the strike, SUNTRACS demanded a salary increase of 60 percent payable at a rate of 15 percent per year during the next four years, the time of the collective agreement, while the Capac presented a 2 percent offer for all the term. The directors of both groups acknowledged that their proposals were extreme and have relaxed their salary increase demands, which already came in the case of SUNTRACS at 4 percent per year and Capac at 2.5 percent per year, “La Estrella de Panamá” newapaper printed on Thursday. The CCIAP added that in the event of arbitration, the Government and the parties should “assign arbitrators with extensive knowledge in the resolution of labor disputes, and who can correctly interpret the economic parameters and the current situation of the construction sector.” “The CCIAP insists that the result of this collective agreement will have repercussions in most sectors of the economy and the population, so it urges the government to review the incentives for residences in the preferential interest tranche,” the union said. He added that the authorities should also review “the construction codes and requirements in force, so that the impact of this increase does not affect the purchasing power of citizens.” The construction sector is one of the engines of the Panamanian economy and in 2016 generated 14.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), one of the most dynamic in the region with an economic expansion of 5, 4 percent in 2017. However, the sector has been spiraling for several years. Official data released on Wednesday indicated that construction activity in the private sector fell by 48 percent in the first quarter of this year in relation to the same period of 2017. http://www.panamatoday.com/economy/panamanian-businessmen-support-salary-negotiation-without-pressure-arbitration-6830 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 12, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 12, 2018 Quote Cold shoulder for Varela strike ploy Posted on May 11, 2018 in Panama Share: Post Views: 234 PRESIDENT Varela’s attempt at pressuring the construction industry union (Suntracs) and the employers association (Capac) to move from the negotiating table to arbitration received a cold shoulder from both sides and from Panama’s, Chamber of Commerce, and Industry (Cciap) on Friday, May 11. The Chamber offered its supporter to the negotiating parties so they can reach an agreement but “without time limitations or the pressure of an arbitration”. The Chamber’s announcement came after the president on Thursday called on Suntracs to seek arbitration and to return to work on May 15 if no pact is reached with the Capac during the weekend. “We recognize the Executive’s concern about the economic cost and the delays in public works caused by this strike. However, in the last 40 years, Capac and Suntracs have negotiated successfully more than 10 collective agreements, this is why that construction workers have the best salaries and the industry the highest profits in Latin America, “said Gabriel Barletta, president of Cciap. Some 260 construction projects have been paralyzed since April 18 including the expansion of Tocumen airport and Metro line 2, projects important to President Varela who, in January 2019 will be set to welcome Pope Francis and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims for World Youth Day. if they are not finished in the time it could cast a shadow on the event. and the president’s swan song, when Panama will be under the world spotlight Barletta pointed out that only the Suntracs is entitled to request arbitration. “If this happens [, we urge the government and the parties to assign arbitrators with ample knowledge in solving labor conflicts, and that can correctly interpret the parameters economic conditions and the current situation of the construction sector, ” he said. Union leader Genaro López has said that the Suntracs would not be interested in requesting arbitration as it always comes down on the side of the employers. Meanwhile, Capac says that its determination is to continue negotiating directly with the union. Cciap stressed that the result of the collective agreement will have repercussions for most sectors of the economy and population. Therefore, “it urges the government to review the incentives for homes in the preferential interest program so that the impact of the increase does not affect the purchasing power of citizens “. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/cold-shoulder-for-varela-strike-ploy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 13, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 13, 2018 Quote Strike shuts down Balboa cranes Posted on May 12, 2018 in Panama, Panama Post Views: 190 Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (Cciap) and the Logistics Business Council have condemned the Saturday, May 12 stoppage of operations in Balboa port. They say the strike action will create major repercussions on the transshipment of cargo as well as adding to the negative impact of the image of the Panamanian logistical hub when Panama’s economy is already feeling the effect of a prolonged construction strike. ‘The workers who handle the terminal cranes stopped work on Saturday after the announcement and implementation of a restructuring plan that means the loss of some 100 jobs. “The Panamanian logistics hub provides a fundamental service for world trade, which is why Paralyzations like these leave Panama in a very bad position in front of clients and operators that choose our route for loading in transshipment, “said Gabriel Barletta, president of the Chamber. “The port of Balboa is one of the terminals with the largest cargo movement in Latin America this not only has a negative impact for the operator, it translates into a detriment to the national economy, “said Baletta. The company, which operates one of the two port terminals in the Pacific sector, said that given the unfavorable reality of Panamanian ports, they are executing “an organizational scheme with which difficult but necessary changes are being implemented for the continuity of operations”. Workers have reported that about 100 could lose their jobs, that later would be outsourced. http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-4/strike-shuts-down-balboa-cranes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelyn Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 34 minutes ago, Moderator_02 said: http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-4/strike-shuts-down-balboa-cranes This may be a strategic mistake on the part of strikers to shut down the Balboa cranes because this hits at the economic heart of Panama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 14, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 14, 2018 Moderator comment: Indeed interesting, protesters protesting protests. ? Quote Panama's business community protests to stop strategic port Sun, 05/13/2018 - 18:18 The Panamanian business leaders protested this Saturday against the suspension of work in the main port of the Panamanian Pacific, Balboa, due to demands from its workers. "The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) categorically rejects the suspension of operations in the Port of Balboa. This action has millions of repercussions on the cargo and its transshipment, as well as joins the negative impact of the image of the Panamanian logistic hub," it said in a statement. The port of Balboa, together with that of Cristóbal, in the Atlantic, are concessions that the Chinese-owned company Hutchinson has been operating for more than 20 years and is in a phase of restructuring that has involved layoffs amid protests staged by workers. "The Panamanian Logistics 'Hub' provides a fundamental service for world trade, which is why such suspensions affect the reputation of Panama vis-à-vis customers and operators who choose our route for loading in transshipment," said Gabriel Barletta, president of the CCIAP. "The Port of Balboa is one of the terminals with the largest freight movement in Latin America, this not only has a negative impact on the operator, this translates into detriment to the national economy," said the business leader. The CCIAP, as part of the Logistics Business Council, joins the call to the parties so that this type of actions do not affect the national logistics chain, one of the few sectors that currently drive the growth of the Panamanian economy. One of the leaders of the Logistics Business Council (COEL), Leroy Sheffer, wrote on Twitter that "the impact of the suspension of a port operation does not harm a company." It damages the efforts of a whole country. Suspending a port in Panama is similar to a high-range missile pointing to a destination = INSTABILITY in the MARKET!". In a statement, the COEL expressed its "strong rejection" of the suspension of the Port of Balboa, at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. The COEL urged the authorities to take an "immediate action" and the administrators and workers to seek a negotiated solution because it is affecting Panama's ability to become a "reliable cargo transshipment center", the foundation to be projected as the Latin American logistics "hub". It is unknown if the suspension is temporary or indefinite. http://www.panamatoday.com/economy/panamas-business-community-protests-stop-strategic-port-6839 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 16, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 16, 2018 Quote “Irresponsible” construction strike negotiators Posted on May 14, 2018 in Panama Deadlocked Post Views: 271 The positions of both parties in the negotiations to reach a collective agreement and end the construction workers’ strike is “irresponsible” says Minister of Labor, Luis Ernesto Carles. Meanwhile, the leader of the workers’ union,, Suntracs said on Sunday, May 13 that the strikers will discuss President Varela’s call for arbitration at an assembly in Parque Porras at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Varela made the appeal before jetting off to London, on a trip seen as unnecessary by over 85% in a poll of readers of La Prensa. The negotiators, Suntracs and the employers’ Association (Capac) talked at the headquarters of the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development, but they failed to establish the collective agreement that will be in effect between 2018 and 2021. The workers insist on an annual wage increase of 11%, while the employers have not budged from their initial offer of 1%. Lopez said that without an improved offer from Capac an agreement will be impossible to achieve. The Labor Minister is worried, as the stoppage on 620 projects distances investors and causes economic losses. The strike, which began on April 18, has meant losses of $810 million for Panama’s economy, hit by another work stoppage at Balboa port. The President and Vice-President are in London holding talks with airlines and business leaders to sell them on investing in the country. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/panamas-irresponsible-construction-strike-negotiators Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 16, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 16, 2018 Quote Panama construction strike enters 5th week Posted on May 15, 2018 in Panama Post Views: 132 THOUSANDS of construction workers who have been on strike for 28 days gathered in Parque Porras on Tuesday, May 15 and vowed to continue the work stoppage until a collective agreement with the employers’ Association (Capac) for 2018-21 is signed. They rejected the call made to their union, ( Suntracs) by President Juan Carlos Varela to seek arbitration, and return to work on May 15 . When general secretary Saúl Méndez, put it to a vote, there was only one in favor of arbitration. A day earlier (Capac) announced that as the parties had failed to reach a negotiated agreement, arbitration was the only viable option. Arbitration is listed in article 452 of the Labor Code and, according to the Capac would result in the suspension of the strike and the immediate return of the workers to their jobs and allow the immediate reactivation of 260 paralyzed projects, allowing workers to receive full salaries and benefits. The continuation of the strike is causing concern among organizers of World Youth Day in January 2019, with an expected influx of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims relying on the completion of Metro line 2 and the expansion of Tocumen International Airport. Varela’s call for arbitration was made before he left on a trip to the UK and Israel. He will return on January 19, by which time the estimated cost to the economy will have reached nearly $1 billion. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/panama-construction-stoppage-enters-5th-week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 17, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 17, 2018 Quote Construction: End of Strike? To end the strike that has now been going on for almost a month, the Panamanian construction union suggested to the workers' union that the disagreement be resolved through arbitration. Tuesday, May 15, 2018 With two days to go before the strike enters its second month, and in view of the inability to reach an agreement, the Panamanian Chamber of Construction proposed to the Single Trade Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) to arbitrate in order to resolve the conflict.Prensa.com reports that "... The option of arbitration is typified in article 452 of the Labor Code and according to the Capac it could result in the suspension of the strike and the immediate return of workers to their respective jobs."At the close of this edition, it was reported that the businessmen's union had approved "... in a general assembly increasing the salary proposal to 3% a year, according to sources from the construction sector. On the other hand, earlier, the workers' union gave approval in a general assembly to uphold the strike, now in its 28th day."Up until now business leaders have maintained their initial proposal for a salary adjustment of 1%, therefore this change has created the expectation that talks with the union will resume and an agreement could be reached. https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Construction_End_of_Strike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted May 18, 2018 Author Share Posted May 18, 2018 The SUNTRACS strike is over. http://www.eleconomista.es/economia/noticias/9147608/05/18/Sindicato-y-patronal-de-construccion-ponen-fin-a-una-huelga-iniciada-hace-un-mes.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted May 18, 2018 Author Share Posted May 18, 2018 This is the wage schedule which was agreed to. https://twitter.com/RetenChiriqui/status/997605883864666112 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 19, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 19, 2018 Quote Construction workers back on job with fatter pay packets Posted on May 18, 2018 in Business, Panama, Panama Negotiators end marathon session Post Views: 209 Panama Construction workers will be back on the job with a fatter wage packet at 260 projects at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 19. An agreement between the employers’ Association (Capac) and the construction workers union was finally inked on Friday afternoon at the Ministry of Labor after a month-long stoppage that followed six months of negotiations to hammer out a multi-tiered agreement covering 2018-2021. The 14% wage adjustment will be made as follows: 3% in the first year, 3% in the second year, 4% in 2020 and the other 4% in 2021. form: 3% in 2018, 3% in 2019, 4% 2020 and 4% in 2021. For state projects, it was agreed 18% in 4 years : (4% in 2018, 4% in 2019, 5% in2020 and 5% in 2021). laborers and helpers would go from their current rate of $3.71 per hour to $4.23 in 2021; while qualified workers would go from $5.0 to $5.70. On Twitter, the Suntracs said that for the mega projects the agreed raise would be 44%: (11% in 2018, 11% in 2019, 11% in 2020 and 11% in 2021 During the stoppage, workers got $50 a week from the Union strike fund to which they contribute each month. http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/construction-workers-back-in-job-with-fatter-pay-packets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 22, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 22, 2018 Quote Construction pay deal will impact Metro Posted on May 20, 2018 in Panama Post Views: 324 The collective pay agreement between Panama’s Construction Chamber (Capac) and the workers’ union (Suntracs) will impact the cost of Panama Metro Line 2, 75% complete says, Director Roberto Roy. The agreement has three salary levels: private projects, State and Mega, and the Metro, Line 2 is one of seven state projects classified as mega, Their workers will receive, as of July 1, an additional adjustment of 11% per hour, over the generally agreed minimum wage which was in the 2014 to 2017 agreement benefitting the workers of the Canal expansion. There are seven state mega-projects identified to which the clause would apply from July 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021. Only Metro line 2 is under construction, “This is an existing clause that was born from the Canal expansion project, in that there was an adjustment by decree of 11% above conventional wages “, says Héctor Ortega, President of the Capac. Mega (or special) projects are all the Metro lines and the extensions that are projected in the future; the light rail to the east sector (considered Metro line 3) the fourth bridge over the Canal; pacific coastal highway; the Changuinola hydroelectric 2, and the Panama-Chiriqui train, which is under study and bidding. These are works financed by the state budget, fed by taxpayer revenue. In the agreement, there is a global salary adjustment of 14% in four years for private sector works http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/construction-pay-deal-will-impact-metro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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