Uruguay: Union decided on full stoppage of Montevideo port between 7 and 11 PM

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Single Port and Related Branches Union (SUPRA) on Monday decided on the full stoppage of activity in the port of Montevideo between 7 and 11 PM on Tuesday due to the little progress in the Union’s several conflicts pending with the companies operating in the country’s main port terminal.

SUPRA leader Martín García said the stoppage of activities was held in “defense of employment” and due to “very little progress” in negotiations with the companies (Montecon and Kaoten Natie) and the government.

SUPRA considers that workers are not guaranteed their labor rights. In addition, it challenges the validity of the new berthing regulations that prioritize container ships to the Specialized Container Terminal (TCP), whose main shareholder is Belgian company Katoen Natie.

Montecon shipping company – the main operator of public docks – has lost one shipping line in early November and a second one is scheduled to stop berthing at the State docks from January.

Montecon had planned to lay off between 20 and 30 workers due to the reduction in activity, although on Tuesday it decided to keep the measure “on hold,” García said.

The ANP submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Labor to prevent the loss of jobs and wages at the public docks where Montecon operates, but SUPRA said the proposal failed to meet expectations. Montecon employs some 390 workers; there are 3 other companies that also provide services at the public docks and employ another 300 people.

The Uruguayan Exporters Union (UEU) issued a statement on Tuesday warning that “once again, stoppages in port services are causing vessels to be diverted and unable to load and unload cargo. As last week, the UEU said that the whole country loses in conflicts of this type.”

“It is a particularly sensitive time, in which it is necessary to defend Uruguayan labor and demonstrate that the country can be a solid and reliable supplier to the world,” the exporters say in their communiqué.

CHANGE IN MONTECON’S MANAGEMENT

Montecon decided to change its CEO in Uruguay. Juan Olascoaga will leave his position as general manager in February next year to be replaced by Martín González, current general manager of Terminales Graneleras Uruguayas (TGG).

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