Milk strike goes to arbitration

PANAMA. The strike held by the Estrella Azul Workers Union has been halted by the government who ordered 'compulsory arbitration'.

It means the workers have to return to work and the company must sit at the bargaining table with worker representatives and an arbitrator.

Miguel Edward, a union member says he does recognize that the strike has had a 'slight' effect on the milk production industry, however he has not been notified of the arbitration and said that “until the Estrella Azul company recognizes our rights, the strike will continue”.

Estrella Azul, which supplies around 50 percent of the country’s milk, have consumers worried because the product is missing from supermarkets across the country.

Producers are also affected claiming big financial losses, and they have had to stop delivering around 8,000 litters of milk a day to the processor because it's not worth the trip.

The union workers went on strike six days ago because, after they reduced their original request of a 39 cent raise to 18 cents, the company was offering them only a 7 cent raise.

“From a 39 cent raise, we lowered it to 18, this is why we are fighting and we won't accept anything less than what we asked for”, said the secretary general of the Estrella Azul Workers Union.