Panamanian Teachers, Government in Talks to End Strike

Panama, Aug 24. -Leaders of teacher unions and representatives of the Ministry of Education continue negotiating a document to put an end to a strike started on July 30.

The teachers insist that they will keep on protesting with all its negative consequences if no agreement is signed giving them guarantees of no repression.

The parties are negotiating a text that has been rewritten several times, now reduced to four very specific points about no repression, recovery of lost time, creation of a high level negotiating commission and a proof that decree 920 that attacked work stability of teachers is abolished.

The talks are been held closed doors at the Ombudsmanos Office, with acting ombudsman Javier Mitil acting as mediator.

There has been no official statement by the parties in conflict, but the main obstacle seems to be the point related to time lost in the 24 days without lessons in classrooms.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Confederation of Workers of the Republic of Panama supported today the actions taken by the teachers, and condemned the attitude assumed by the government, which has failed to reach an agreement.(Prensa Latina)