No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeA man a plan a canal panamaStrike ends at Panama Canal expansion project

Strike ends at Panama Canal expansion project

PANAMA CITY — A two-week strike by workers expanding the Panama Canal has ended after they won wage increases, a union leader said Wednesday.

The huge project is already a year behind schedule and was halted earlier this year in a dispute over large cost overruns.

The agreement to end the stoppage was announced by Saúl Méndez, secretary general of the construction workers union Suntracs.

The strike was by construction workers throughout Panama. Workers involved in big projects like the canal expansion will get an 11 percent raise this year and further increases over the next three years, Mendez said.

Until now, skilled workers in the canal project were earning $3.99 an hour.

The canal, completed by U.S. interests in 1914 to create a shortcut and safer journey for maritime traffic between the Atlantic and the Pacific, is used by 13,000 to 14,000 ships each year.

The expansion — one of the biggest civil engineering operations in the world — will add a third set of locks to the canal.

Trending Now

How the US Shutdown Could Disrupts Travel to Costa Rica

As the US federal government enters a partial shutdown starting today October 1, travelers heading to Costa Rica face potential hurdles. The impasse stems...

Costa Rica Court Orders Urgent Regulation of Tuna Fishing Law

Costa Rica's Constitutional Court has stepped in to push the government on a long-delayed tuna fishing law. The court partially backed an appeal from...

Costa Rica Faces a Must-Win for a Place in 2026 World Cup

Costa Rica's national soccer team faces a defining stretch in their bid to reach the 2026 World Cup. With just two points from their...

Costa Rican Hotels Warn of Job Risks Amid Drop in Tourists

Hotels across Costa Rica face mounting pressures as tourist numbers dip and a sluggish dollar exchange rate eats into their earnings. From January to...

5 Top Costa Rican Restaurants on TripAdvisor’s Best List

Costa Rica's restaurants have landed spots on TripAdvisor's global list of top dining spots this year. Five local places made the cut in the...

Costa Rica Faces Rising Extortion from Informal Lenders, Says UN

A new United Nations study sheds light on the rapid spread of informal lending schemes called "gota a gota" across Costa Rica, where high-interest...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica