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Access to Valparaiso Port in Chile was virtually closed on 4 April when maritime and seafarers’ union members and supporters marched to oppose government proposals to open the country’s cabotage to foreign competition and to push through legislation quickly.
Privately owned terminal 1 was partially closed while state owned terminal 2 was completely brought to a halt when truckers, customs officers, dockers, seafarers, university students and staff and port agencies joined the march, which was organised by the Maritime Council of Workers (MCW).
Union pressure had already resulted in some changes to the government proposals. Presentations were made to the lower chamber of the Congress on 2 and 3 April by ITF inspector Juan Luis Villalon Jones, giving an international perspective; Hector Azua of Sindicato de Oficiales de Southship and the ITF Fair Practices Committee, representing the MCW; and others, including shipowners and the Chief of Navy. As a result, the chamber lowered the priority of the legislative project, which means that it will allow more time for debate, requested the government ministry to modify their proposals and announced a seminar later in April for all parties to discuss the issue in more detail.
Juan Luis Villalon Jones commented: “We will keep up the pressure until the government sees sense and puts an end to attempts to open Chile's cabotage. We believe one of the reasons to requests the opening of the cabotage is to lower the contractual conditions of Chilean Seafarers and this is unacceptable. The government needs to recognize the skills and expertize of Chilean workers and the strategic asset they represent for Chile's economy."