Country's ports paralyze in adhesion to mejillones workers

Date: 2013/03/27

Workers from Antofagasta Terminal Internacional (ATI) as well as from ITI in Iquique, stopped work indefinitely in adherence to 10-day strike that kept Contracted Workers Union and Eventual workers from Ultraport in Mejillones.

This was announced by Union President port of Mejillones, Richard Orellana, who reported that at 15:30 pm Monday began a national strike, which have gradually been adding ports throughout the country, being with chores stopped at this time, in addition to the ports of Antofagasta, Iquique and Mejillones, the two terminals of San Antonio and the port of Huasco added

The leader said ports of the Bío Bío will join the strike as of this afternoon.

Richard Orellana said to The Longino that in this way they deny press reports indicating that the majority of workers in ports operated by UltraPort, have accepted the proposal of 3,200 pesos made by the company by way of continuous-time snack 7.5 hours, and if workers agreed with that proposal they wouldn’t be not be going to national strike.

Finally, the union president port workers from Mejillones said that when they knew about the company's proposal, immediately stated that they did not accept it because it did not meet their expectations, suggesting what they have asked; to enable a Casino, and while this facility is not , reason they set a period of eight months, demanding a collation port allocation of $ 4,000 pesos per worker.

ULTRAPORT STATEMENT

Meanwhile Ultraport company issued the following press statement about the strike at the port of Mejillones.

"Although it is an illegal move, UltraPort has led from the beggining a constructive dialogue to resolve the conflict and thus safeguard the labor source of all employees and return normal port operations. Indeed, company has maintained dialogue despite continue strike and continue violence acts, blocking access, which prevents other workers who do not support this mobilization can exercise their right to job.

"Since the beginning of this situation Department of Labor was reported and we ask support from Maritime Authority and Police officers, against various violence acts and threats made by some workers paralyzed during the first days. The illegal strike has limited the normal income shifts from other partners and employees, who belong to the other four port unions which are not stuck to the strike and who hope to resume their work quickly.

"Currently, Union No. 2 Ultraport workers in Puerto Angamos remains paralyzed, requiring different demands of their working conditions. However, about two weeks ago, Ultraport began negotiations with most of their unions in the country in order to deliver an increased allocation for collation continuous time work 7.5 hours amounting to $ 3,200 per shift and favors to all eventual staff and contracted with shift bonus scheme. This allocation represents an increase in normal salary of $ 80,000 for worker who works 25 shifts.

"The coversations have progressed positively throughout the country and currently about 70% of total company workers have shown consistent with the proposal, including workers from four of the five unions of ULTRAPORT in Puerto Angamos. They were informed by representatives of the scope of the proposal last Friday.

UltraPort regrets that this agreement has not been accepted by workers belonging to the union Nro.2 and strike of a specific group continue affecting the labor supply of all employees that want to work, but they can’t and eventually lose about $ 30,000 pesos per shift day and $ 45,000 pesos on Sundays or holidays.

Source: Diario 21