SANTIAGO, CHILE - After nearly a month of hostilities, Chile's port workers and the nation's port authorities have reached an agreement to end December's labor strike.
"We appreciate this accord, which ends more than three weeks of paralysis," shared Chile's fruit exporters' chamber Fedefruta. "From the beginning, we held talks with the Ministries of Interior, Agriculture and Labor, employers and port unions in order to begin a conversation that might end the conflict."
The strike, which began at the key northern port of Angamos and rapidly spread throughout the nation, paralyzed exports during late December, according to Reuters. This was a serious hardship for the grape, apple and berry farmers who form a key component of the Chilean national economy.
Fedefruta notes, however, that work remains to be done, even after this welcome news.
"Independent of what was agreed in the document, a law is urgently needed to protect the safe shipment of perishables in the future,” the organization shared. “Securing the safe transportation of these products should be considered a key priority for the Chilean economy. "
At least now, however, growers relying on Chile's key ports at Angamos, Iquique and the nation's multitude of southern shipping outlets, can go to work with the knowledge that their shipping lanes are once again open for business.
Stay tuned as we continue to keep you updated on this important topic.
