<p>A written agreement has been signed by the dockworkers' union and the Government of Chile to end the strike of stevedores at several ports after three weeks, according to Reuters.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The strike significantly impacted fresh fruit shipments for more than three weeks. The work stoppage affected grape, apple and berry exports.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"We appreciate this agreement," Said the President of Fedefruta, the key labor union involved with the dispute, Christian Allendes, according to la Nacion. "We care not only that this issue was of public interest, also we held discussions from the beginning with the Ministries of Interior, Agriculture and Labor, employers and dockworkers unions to possible a dialogue to end the conflict. [Translated]"<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The northern port of Angamos began a work stoppage in late December. The action then spread to other ports, which initially began striking in solidarity and in protest to what they called police brutality against striking workers.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Ultimately, the conflict remained in the port of San Antonio, where large amounts of fresh produce were lost. The central issue for workers was regarding retroactive payment for lunch breaks, which has been an ongoing dispute for a number of years.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Now that this issue is settled, presumably all work will return to normal and work stoppages will cease to impede the exportation of fresh produce from the country.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://news.yahoo.com/chile-port-workers-end-strike-three-weeks-020118600--sector.html;_ylt=AwrSyCO9l.ZSoiUAEC_QtDMD" target="_new"> Reuters </a><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.lanacion.cl/noticias/economia/empresas/fedefruta-agradece-el-fin-del-paro-portuario/2014-01-25/215027.html" target="_new"> La Nacion </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
