BRIEFS: Labor

Further strikes a possibility

The unions behind Thursday’s 24-hour strike will meet today to determine what further action should be taken, said Andrés Rodríguez, president of the Asociación de Profesores de la República. The union leader said that there is a possibility that a longer strike could be organized, but that decision will be made by various union leaders, and not by any particular group.

Qualified by the strikers as a success, the work stoppage was mainly supported by construction workers and teachers. Economist Felipe Chapman said it was difficult to quantify the effect of the job action, but said that it impacted low-income families the most. These families are the ones whose schools were closed and who had their transportation disrupted by the stoppage.

“We must identify measures to reduce inflation,” Chapman said. “But strikes do not solve anything.”

The Cámara de Comercio estimated the strike cost Panama's government and private sector a total of $14 million. It was called to protest rising prices, particularly those of food and other necessities.