Consortium expanding Panama canal reaches deal with union, avoids strike

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - A Spanish-led consortium working to expand the Panama Canal has reached an initial deal with workers to raise wages and head off a proposed strike, both sides said on Tuesday.

The workers' union had threatened to go on strike on Wednesday unless GUPC consortium, made up of Spanish builder Sacyr, Italy's Salini Impregilo and Belgium's Jan de Nul, agreed to raise salaries.