of Panamanian labor necessary for the third set of locks project and its connected activities, the ACP and public and private authorities worked jointly to train the required workforce, with sufficient lead time, so that it had the necessary competencies, capabilities, and certifications. The costs of these training programs were included in the cost estimates of the project. Critics dismiss this as demagogy, noting that according to the ACP's own studies, at the peak of construction there would be fewer than 6,000 jobs created, and that some of these would be highly skilled posts filled by foreigners because there are no Panamanians qualified to fill them. Among those who opposed the canal expansion proposal is Panama's construction workers' union, SUNTRACS. The workers went on strike demanding higher pay, back pay, and better safety. The average worker was getting paid $2.90/hr and a skilled worker was paid $3.52/hr. After the strike average worker was getting paid about $4.90/hr and skilled about $7.10/hr. The union's secretary general, Genaro Lopez, argued that while some construction jobs would be created by the project, the debt that Panama incurs to build a third set of locks will not be defrayed by increased canal usage and thus an increased part of canal revenues will go toward paying the debt, reducing the waterway's contributions to the national government's general fund, in turn reducing the money available for road projects, public schools, police protection, and other government services. Critics also claim that the project lacks an accompanying social development plan. Then-President Torrijos has since accepted the request to develop one with the mediation of the United Nations Development Programme. In support of the project ANCON (the National Association for Nature Conservation) approved the environmental studies of the proposal and gave some recommendations before the project was approved. The following had also endorsed the proposal: La Prensa newspaper, in an editorial note Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture The government-aligned CONATO (National Council of Organized Workers) Stanley Heckadon, former director of the INRENARE agency, predecessor of the National Environmental Authority Former Miss Universe Justine Pasek, writer Rosa María Britton, and painter Olga Sinclair Canal customers, many in the maritime industries and the business community 77% of Panamanian voters, in a referendum; the turnout was 43% Against the project Former President Jorge Illueca, former sub-administrator of the Panama Canal Commission Fernando Manfredo, shipping consultant Julio Manduley, and industrial entrepreneur George