Lorry drivers blocked roads at major ports in Chile last week during a strike to protest against poor treatment by the shipping companies, port operators and government. The action began on Thursday at the ports of Valparaíso and San Antonio before spreading to the ports in the north and south of the country including Iquique, Antofagasta, Maule and Bio Bio on Friday.
Juan Araya, president of the National Truck Owners’ Confederation, who staged the walkout, called on the government to do more to resolve delays caused by lengthy phytosanitary and cargo inspections, which amounted to “mistreatment” by shipping companies and terminal operators at the ports. He also claimed drivers were being affected by the high price of fuel and were being subjected to attacks to trucks in the south-central region of Araucania.
Jose Egido, head of the truckers' union in Valparaiso, told Cooperativa radio that the decision to protest was made after two years of fruitless talks with the authorities.
Under the current system he said, “the driver has to be practically enclosed in his cab for 24-48 hours, without hardly being able to go to the restroom, eat anything or be a little more at ease while they're carrying out the inspections”.
The unions threatened to stage an open-ended walkout if the government does not meet their demands.
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