Strike at Chile''s main port would extend to others
The labor strike at the port of San Antonio, the most important of cabotage cargos in Chile, would extend to other marine terminals and export-related sectors, due to the authorities' refusal to respond to labor demands.
According to the Secretary of collective bargaining and conflicts of the Central Confederation of Workers, Cristian Cuevas, there have been talks for other ports to join the strike through solidarity actions such as slow work, paralysis of hours and pressure to satisfy other demands.
Workers in San Antonio, in the region of Valparaíso, have maintained the port terminal totally paralyzed for five days as the process of privatization of ports obstructs their retirement before 65 years of age.
Cuevas criticized the Government's position, and especially that of the Sub-secretary of the Interior in charge of negotiations, Rodrigo Ubilla, who "In his opinion, should make a greater effort to resolve the problem as soon as possible, and do not blame the employees".
The spokesman of San Antonio port, Sergio Vargas, said that historically the workers of the industry have retired early because the intensity of work is very debilitating, and they are susceptible to various types of accidents, chronic back injuries and even cancer.
The workers claim that pensions are given after 55 years with double basic salary, and that they should be inherited by widows.