Unpaid workers threaten new strike in Chile

In January this year, ports throughout the country had ground to a halt in a dispute over unpaid bonuses stretching back over a number of years, a situation which was only eventually resolved through a government-brokered deal.

However, port workers at Antofagasta, Caldera, Huasco, Iquique, Mejillones and San Antonio have all complained that the bonuses have yet to be paid, despite the agreement, and reaffirmed their commitment to go back out on strike if this situation continues. Indeed, organised labour says that the strike will resume unless all port workers receive the back pay.

Meanwhile, 180 workers at the Port of Valparaiso, which was not affected by the strike, are now in dispute with port company EPV, complaining that they were not correctly compensated when the Espigón Terminal was privatised. They claim that EPV negotiated with Terminal Pacifico Sur, leaving the Espigón workers practically unemployed. Those affected are now in discussions with Chile’s port union to discuss possible strike action.