According to the statement issued by members of the guild, they gave until next Wednesday the adequate time for the authorities to meet their demands.

Last March a commission of the Ministry of Economy and Finance studied the first petitions, after a strike in which the “red shirts” requested the disbursement of 2.9 million dollars for these retributions.

Before the announcement of a sit-down strike, an official note at the time stated that the Government had absolute confidence in the responsible and professional conduct of the firefighters, who safeguard Panamanians, at the risk of their own lives.

The call for protests of the firefighters adds to others from sectors such as teachers and nurses, also for late pay and in demand of better working conditions.

mh/arm/mgt/ga