Workers at the Panama Canal Expansion project could be set to go on strike on Wednesday August 12, 2015 after a dispute arose between GUPC, the consortium managing the canal’s expansion and ‘Suntracs’, the construction workers union, according to IHS Maritime 360.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) are said to have no involvement in the dispute, stating: “The ACP has repeatedly appealed to both sides to reach an agreement on matters that, by law, only pertain to dealings between GUPC and SUNTRACS.
“The ACP, although the ultimate owner of the project, is in no way responsible for labour issues arising from any failure on the part of GUPC to meet labour demands by its subcontractors.
“On the contrary, the ACP is deeply concerned about the situation and is following closely the developments on the matter as its business may be impacted directly if the work is not carried out efficiently and promptly to deliver the project on time.”
The Panama Canal Expansion is scheduled to be completed in early 2016, but if strike action is allowed to continue, significant delays could result in the canal’s construction.
The canal itself is currently at the electro-mechanical phase of its development, having recently completed the installation of 16 rolling lock gates, eight on the Pacific side and the other eight on the Atlantic side.
