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.

  • TwiddleTwaddle@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    8·
    2 days ago

    How about the right to a decent wage and safe working conditions? Because “right to work” without those things is just forced labor (slavery).

    • ElectricAirship@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      1·
      1 day ago

      You are absolutely right. My comment was more about preventing corporations from being able to fire workers arbitrarily when it becomes inconvenient for them.

      In 2020, 23 million Americans were laid off with no warning and no option to find work when the pandemic hit. A person should be protected from that happening to them ever again in addition to the right to a livable wage and safe work conditions (i.e. the right to work).

      https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/jobtracker/