Banana giant Chiquita Brands has fired its workers in Panama who have been out on strike for more than three weeks as part of nationwide protests against reforms to the social security system.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/38551804

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino had said earlier Thursday that the strike was illegal and included some 5,000 workers.

“Unfortunately, following the unjustified abandonment of work at our plantations and operations centers since April 28 and continuing today, (the company) has proceeded with the termination of all of our daily workers,” the company said in a statement. It said the company had suffered losses of at least $75 million.

Protests marches and occasional roadblocks have stretched from one end of the country to the other as teachers, construction workers and other unions expressed their rejection to changes the government said were necessary to keep the social security system solvent.

  • pdxfed@lemmy.world
    10·
    1 month ago

    So what are the reforms sought that the government is trying for force onto workers in lockstep with major declining states? Can I guess longer working years, reduced benefits…?

      • pdxfed@lemmy.world
        81·
        1 month ago

        It’s global. Denmark just increased retirement age by 3 years. The UK is trying their best to serve their wealthy masters and worsen their system. The fascists running the US right now claim social security is “insolvent” but have passed decades of giveaways to wealthy and corporations instead of funding social security and many other basics…all on the eve of trillions in giveaways of their proposed budget.

  • HiddenLayer555@lemmy.mlEnglish
    2·
    1 month ago

    $75 million losses

    Are they really losses when everyone knows they’re just going to raise prices to recoup them?