Chile’s biggest stevedore union votes for indefinite strike at national ports

San Francisco: The main dockworkers union in Chile has voted for indefinite strike action at the country’s national ports.

Members of the Port Workers Union of Chile (UPCH) took the step to industrial action in protest at a lack of progress in labour reform talks and to prod the government to do the right thing when a labour rights vote is taken in the Valparaiso congress in a few days

The union says that amendments to existing labour law have not gone far enough.

UPCH also included demands for better educational reforms.

The ports of San Antonio (from where a large proportion of fruit exports depart), Talcahuano, San Vicente, Coronel and Lirquen were going to be the first affected starting on Thursday.

Valparaiso, Arica and Angamos ports will continue operating normally, while the port of Iquique is already in a strike situation but for other reasons.

Fruit Exporters Association of Chile AG (Asoex) called on its members to take all possible safeguards to minimise the impact of the labour action.