Port Workers Show Solidarity with Truckers: Conatraport Warns of Job Risks Amid Government Inaction

Original article: Camioneros suman respaldo portuario: Conatraport alerta por riesgo de despidos y no descarta sumarse al paro si el Gobierno no responde

The National Confederation of Port Workers (Conatraport) has expressed its full support for the ongoing strike by truckers, warning that the government’s fuel price hike initiated by President José Antonio Kast in late March, referred to as the «bencinazo», poses a direct threat to port jobs and increases the risk of layoffs.

«We are doing this because we understand the deep impact that the rise in fuel prices has had on the incomes, quality of life, and ability to make ends meet for thousands of workers and their families,» states the organization’s public declaration, which does not rule out joining the strike if La Moneda fails to provide responses that could resolve the conflict.

Conatraport emphasized that this decision affects transportation and all those who rely on their jobs, creating an additional concern in the port sector, as increases in energy costs «directly threaten jobs.» The organization also expressed regret that the country is facing this situation as a result of unilateral decisions, made without the necessary dialogue or political and social consensus required for measures of this magnitude.

«We are warning of a troubling pattern: the persistence of decisions questioned, even for their legality, and the refusal to listen to alternative proposals, which ultimately undermines certainty and deepens social tensions. To paraphrase a historic president of Chile: ‘No one is humiliated when they engage in dialogue for their country,'» indicated the Confederation, reinforcing that dialoguing «is not a concession to the opposition nor a sign of weakness.»

Thus, while supporting the transporters’ movement, the organization demanded that the government abandon its intransigence and open «effective spaces for dialogue and solutions«.

Conatraport offered to act as a bridge with sectors that have proposed concrete alternatives over several months without being heard, «particularly the Table for Employment and Industry Defense in Biobío.»

The Confederation warned that it does not rule out taking actions to join the protests if the lack of willingness from Kast’s administration persists and made it clear that Chile needs a government that creates solutions with others, «without exclusions and by listening to all sectors, not just those who think like him.»

«We do not seek to escalate the conflict. We seek real solutions, without traps or fine print; we demand solutions that protect family incomes and the dignity of those who depend on their work,» concludes the text, which states: «Social peace cannot be imposed through unilateral decisions: it is built by listening, dialogue, and resolution.»

Truckers Gain Port Support While Continuing Stalemate with Government

With this declaration, truckers are gaining more support as they maintain their national strike launched earlier this week in protest against rising fuel prices and increasing operational costs.

Representatives from the Northern Transport Confederation (CTFN) and the Central Southern Truck Owners Confederation reiterated that the mobilization will continue indefinitely due to the lack of measures from Kast’s administration that would meet their demands.

«There is no agreement,» stated CTFN President Cristian Sandoval following a meeting with Interior Minister and Segegob, Claudio Alvarado, on Wednesday.

One significant point of contention during the meeting was the Executive’s proposal to freeze fuel prices for 74 days, which was rejected by truckers as insufficient.

According to Sandoval, the guild is requesting the freeze to extend for 120 days and that a reduction in fuel prices be implemented concurrently.

Sandoval pointed out that the measures intended by Kast offer long-term impacts, while truckers need immediate solutions to address price increases accumulated over more than 7 to 8 months, which have raised their operational costs.

He noted that everything the government has offered «is for the long term, not for now.»

Truckers’ demands include the elimination of the specific fuel tax, a review of tolls and contracts for concessioned highways, along with a modification of the Fuel Price Stabilization Mechanism (Mepco). Due to the lack of agreement with the government, the strike continues along Route 5 and Route 68, with protests occurring in Santiago, San Antonio, Valparaíso, Talagante, Melipilla, Paine, and in regions such as Biobío, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, O’Higgins, and La Araucanía, among others.

Featured Image: Mediabanco.