The union organizations left from Porras Park until May 5 to demand social justice, reject union persecution and denounce international interference in Panamanian affairs.
One more May 1, International Workers’ Day, is commemorated in the streets of Panama.
Construction union groups, teachers’ unions, public employees among other labor groups and peasant movements marched from Parque Porras until May 5 with slogans about the rejection of international interference, clamor for labor improvements and against what they have described as ‘a persecution against the union movement.’
In addition, representatives of the Indio River communities participated, who with signs and banners made known their displeasure over the project to construct the water reservoir for the Panama Canal.
Different unions march on the occasion of May 1st Worker’s Day.
Video: Gabriel Rodríguezhttps://t.co/Jv0CT2FvT1 pic.twitter.com/E6QksT5kDn
— La Prensa Panamá (@prensacom) May 1, 2026
At the demonstration, union leaders spoke out about the arrest and judicial proceedings against several members of the Single National Union of Construction and Similar Industry Workers (Suntracs).
There are currently criminal proceedings against directors of that union such as Jaime Caballero and Saul Mendez. The two are being investigated for the alleged commission of the crime of money laundering as a result of a labor dispute in the Red Frog tourism project, on Isla Bastimentos island, Bocas del Toro.
Caballero is under house arrest at his home in Boquete, Chiriquí. While Méndez, who was general secretary of Suntracs, requested asylum in Bolivia, where he remained from May 21 to July 19, 2025. Days later, he left that country. The judicial authorities of Panama issued an Interpol red alert to locate him and it is indicated that he would be in Venezuela.
