With the teachers union at the forefront and the progressive unification of other sectors such as health and construction, Panama is being shaken by strikes and demonstrations against the cost of living and the austerity plans of the Laurentino Cortizo government.
By Martin Carcione
Since the first days of this month, the demands over the sharp increase in fuel, food and life in general, added to the deterioration of an economy based on services and hit hard by the pandemic, have not stopped growing and put the government in check, after it had already partially given in to the demands by freezing the price of fuel and convening talks with the union leaders that are leading the fight.
In the heat of the international economic crisis
Although Panama is one of the countries with the most stable economies in the region, heavily involved in international financial movements and an essentially service based economy, the consequences of the international economic crisis strengthened by the pandemic and the recent rise in commodities driven by the war caused food and fuel prices to skyrocket, dealing a heavy blow to the pockets of working families and sectors of the professional middle class. The data provided by the World Bank speak of 130,000 people who are added to the poverty rates and a progressive increase in the unemployment rates from 2019 to this part.
Faced with this scenario, 72 hour strike began on July 7, called by the teachers’ unions and the support of the SUNTRACS (Single Union of Construction and Allied Workers), the CONUSI (National Confederation of Independent Trade Union Unity) and the CGTP (General Central of Workers of Panama). This first action was the beginning of a mobilization process that has been sustained despite the calls for dialogue and the partial measures announced by the government.
Other sectors join
Indigenous and youth groups have joined the actions called by the unions, and the strike has incorporated road and market blockades by construction workers.
This generalization of the struggle has caused the government to hesitate to repress and after its initial threats, it turned to trying to dismantle the process through dialogue accompanied by the Catholic Church, which offered itself as a “mediator” in the situation. However, this Wednesday, July 13, a massive mobilization collapsed the streets of Panama City, showing that there is strength and determination to go for all the popular demands.
Solidarity and support for the struggle of workers and peoples
From the International Socialist League, we have been advancing in the region and we will work with all our efforts to promote solidarity with the struggles of the Panamanian workers and people, which will undoubtedly be a boost for all the struggles in the region.
