According to Marcelo Di Stefano of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, there is no peace or democracy if workers are deprived of the right to unionize, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, and demonstrate.

At the 20th Meeting of the International Labor Organization, which recently held in the Dominican Republic, the Argentine leader denounced that union leaders in Panama are detained and others are in exile for defending these demands.

Margarita Lopez, of the Inter-American Regional Executive Committee of Public Services International, stated that they reported to the Vice Minister of Labor of Panama, Ana Gabriela Soberón, about the constant violations of freedom of association in Panama.

In this regard, they urged dialogue and an end to attacks against union members and called on the institution to play its role.

From his exile, the former general secretary of the Single Union of Workers in the Construction and Related Industries, Saul Mendez, also launched strong criticism against the current government, business leaders, and Labor Minister Jackeline Muñoz, accusing them of making a pact to prevent direct collective bargaining, a right protected by law and the labor agreements themselves.

Mendez indicated that the strategy of the executive branch headed by José Raúl Mulino is to destroy the organization that has confronted these governments and corrupt officials for the past 36 years and denounced that Muñoz has blocked the direct negotiation process and promoted “yellow” unions to divide and weaken workers.

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