Panama Government and Teachers Face Off
Panamanian teachers and government are in confrontation over a demand for salary increases requested by education unions, which are threatening to strike if their demands are not heard.

The teachers want an increase of 190 dollars a month, but the administration only proposes 65 dollars over two years, to begin in 2007.

Other demands include improving teaching quality, health conditions, payment of back wages and reclassification for areas of difficult access.

The Executive proposal was rejected by the teachers before, and they gave an August 2 deadline for meeting the demands, but the parties remain in contact and Panamanian Teachers Association leader Andres Rodriguez is confident the government will ultimately accept their demands.

The teachers held general assemblies Thursday to debate the government proposal, and their position was supported by several Panamanian organizations.

Also, thousands of teachers marched to Executive headquarters Tuesday, where they were received by Panamanian Health Minister Camilo Alleyne and Housing Minister Balbina Herrera.