MIAMI (AP) -- A judge has dismissed a union lawsuit by Panama Canal Zone workers who claimed the United States left owing them $1.2 billion in severance pay, Social Security and other benefits.þþAn estimated 30,000 Panamanian civilians employed by canal administrators, the U.S. military and other U.S. agencies since the 1970s asked to be covered by the union lawsuit filed last year.þþBut U.S. District Judge Donald Graham concluded he did not have jurisdiction to settle the dispute, agreeing with Justice Department attorneys that the issues were covered by U.S. civil service grievance procedures.þþ``We're satisfied with the court's decision,'' Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller said Thursday.þþWilliam Tuttle, one of the workers' attorneys, said it was premature to say whether workers would appeal the 23-page order bringing an end to the lawsuit earlier this month.þþ``At this point, we're still trying to review and evaluate the order,'' he said. ``It's too premature to discuss what options we might get to.''þþThe U.S. government formally relinquished control over the canal to Panama at the end of 1999.þþThe workers' union charged U.S. citizens were treated differently from Panamanian citizens before and during the turnover, and that attempts to settle the dispute were fruitless.þ
Source: NY Times
