SUNTRACS (National Union of Workers of Construction and Similar Industries; ) is one of the leading
trade union
A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...
forces in
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...
, with 40,000 members and a
militant
The English word ''militant'' is both an adjective and a noun, and it is generally used to mean vigorously active, combative and/or aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in "militant reformers". It comes from the 15th century Latin " ...
style of
class war unionism. It is the leader union within
Coordinadora de Unidad Sindical (CONUSI), the most radical of the major
union federation
A national trade union center (or national center or central) is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a country. Nearly every country in the world has a national trade union center, and many have more than one. In some regions, such a ...
s in Panama.
Led by
Genaro López
Genaro López Rodríguez (born 26 July 1954 in Chitra, Calobre District, Veraguas Province, Panama) is a Panamanian union leader and politician. He is best known as secretary-general of the building workers' union Suntracs, 1990–2010; as leade ...
, SUNTRACS has initiated three general strikes in the past few years, and has been the instrumental force within FRENADESO, the national coalition to prevent the
privatization
Privatization (also privatisation in British English) can mean several different things, most commonly referring to moving something from the public sector into the private sector. It is also sometimes used as a synonym for deregulation when ...
of Panama's social security. It has been closely connected with radical leftist groups and Padre
Conrado Sanjur Conrado may refer to:
People with the given name
*Gregorio Conrado Álvarez (1925–2016), Uruguayan general and former dictator
*Luis Conrado Batlle or Luis Batlle Berres (1897–1964), Uruguayan political figure
*Conrado Benitez (1889–1971), fo ...
, an important local figure in
liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian theological approach emphasizing the liberation of the oppressed. In certain contexts, it engages socio-economic analyses, with "social concern for the poor and political liberation for oppressed peoples". In ...
.
The union campaigns for the on-the-job safety of its members. There have been many deaths and injuries in the Panamanian construction industry due to unsafe working conditions, and SUNTRACS works to improve conditions and prevent further casualties.
In 2014, SUNTRACS members working on the
Panama Canal expansion project
The Panama Canal expansion project ( es, ampliación del Canal de Panamá), also called the Third Set of Locks Project, doubled the capacity of the Panama Canal by adding a new lane of traffic allowing for a larger number of ships, and increasin ...
engaged in a two-week strike, gaining an 11% pay increase over their previous per hour wage.
References
External links
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Trade unions in Panama
Building and construction trade unions
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