The Costanera Espigón Maritime Port Workers' Federation (Fetraportces) kicked off an indefinite strike in Chile on Saturday, claiming San Antonio concessionary Puerto Central had not upheld its end of the bargain.

San Antonio. Photo: Fedefruta

In local media outlet El Líder de San Antonio, Fetraportces president Diego Silva said the company was not respecting agreements made previously, making distinctions between contracted and casual workers.

In a response in a press release, Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) president Ronald Bown expressed "concern about the situation that is affecting the Port of San Antonio".

"This is happening at a time when Resolution 7233 of December 2014 was just published by the National Customs Directorate, which obliges companies that participate in the country's foreign trade to pay an equivalent sum of US$0.20 per [metric] ton that is exported or imported to the country, with proceeds going to cover commitments made by the State, mainly related to retroactive payments for port workers' lunch breaks and pensions," the statement said.

Bown also highlighted efforts from the private sector that ought to avoid "highly pernicious effects" that damage exports, particularly in the perishables sector.

"The agreement of August 12 established the creation of a 'Special Commission' with the aim of advancing in the port sector's pending issues, which until now has not happened. On the other hand we see with great concern that concessionaire companies continue to have labor conflicts that have not been adequately solved, and whose costs are definitely assumed by the users."

ASOEX has called on the authorities and companies involved to "take responsibility at the earliest" to avoid conflicts that could once again cause serious problems for the national economy.

Chilean Fruit Federation (Fedefruta) president Juan Carolus Brown said he hoped the Fetraportces workers would make good on promises made a few months ago that they would not prevent fruit shipments.

"It seemed very positive to us when Fetraportces signalled in October that they would not stop the shipment of fruit through the Port of San Antonio in the case of a strike, with the aim of not damaging perishables and our activities in the field," Brown said.

"From what has been indicated at this moment, there have already been conversations with the Puerto Central and the Muellaje Central to implement these measures."

In October last year, Silva said an agreement had been made so that shipments of fruit would not be suspended during the fruit season.

"As workers we don't want to damage the export of fruit that arrives at the Port of San Antonio," he said.

If the situation worsens, this would be the third consecutive summer fruit season that Chile's fruit sector is hit by the effects of conflicts between port operators and unions.

www.freshfruitportal.com