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The Humboldt shipping company union, which brings together more than 430 officers and crew of larger ships and tugboats owned by the holding company Ultranav, approved to go on strike with a very large majority.
With more than 92% support from workers involved in collective bargaining, the largest union of the national merchant marine, decided to vote and approve the strike, discarding the “last offer” from the employer.
According to the union, the offer “consisted basically of the same clauses of the previous collective agreement, which was widely rejected by the union leadership, and the workers involved in the negotiation.”
The strike could take place as of next Tuesday, April 6, and would imply the total arrest of 28 tugs and more than 13 larger ships throughout the country. “In the midst of a pandemic, it could generate serious risks for the country’s supply logistics chain,” they warn.
“What we have always asked the company for are better shipping times. Our people have been browsing for months, with a pandemic, with a closed gate, up to 5 consecutive months of browsing, which is excessive, and we believe that this negotiation is the space to discuss these issues. Unfortunately with the company we have not been able to reach an agreement, and we believe that the time has come for the administration to understand that people are unhappy about the high shipping times in relation to the reality of the item in the country, where the scenario has changed ” , said the leaders.
They added that despite the pandemic, “merchant workers have complied with Chile and with our employer, maintaining the country’s logistics chain despite long shipping times and being away from our families in the midst of a health emergency. We hoped that this contribution would be recognized in this negotiation ”.
Regarding the strike, they indicate that “the workers do not want to make (the) effective, but if necessary, we will do it “.
They detail that officers and crew of tugboats and larger ships subscribe to the strike, providing services in ships owned by the Ultranav company, whose holding company has concessions for ports such as Valparaíso, Coquimbo, larger ships, tugboats, boats and provides services throughout the chain national and international maritime. The company provides services to ENAP, Codelco, mining companies, and national and international cabotage services, and in strategic areas of the country, “which in the event of a strike could generate serious supply complications for the country,” they emphasize.
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