The leadership of construction workers union Suntracs has reached an agreement with Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC) that will avoid a work stoppage on the third set of locks that are part of the Panama Canal expansion.

The union had sought an increase of more than 8 percent for the 6,000 workers involved in the work.

The parties agreed to an increase of $4.81 for qualified workers and 5 percent for other categories, retroactive to July 1.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) had requested the contractor attempt to resolve the labor dispute as soon as possible to avoid the negative effect on the expansion, which is 93 percent complete.

The expansion is expected to be finished in April 2016.

La Prensa