Brazil’s ports are facing a national 24-hour strike that could significantly impact shipping operations.
Port workers will meet on 11 May to coordinate a national strike over 24-hours to pressure the government to release a vaccination schedule for port workers, reported A Tribuna. On 9 May, a protest in front of the Santos Port Authority (SPA) headquarters took place. Similar action was carried out in several ports in the country, including Rio de Janeiro, Natal, Salvador, and São Francisco do Sul.
Executive director of the Union of Shipping Agencies of the State of São Paulo (Sindamar), José Roque, said: “The operations that load or discharge commodities will be the most affected. We understand the port workers’ claim about the vaccination requirement, due to the exposure to which they are subjected, and this also extends to shipping agencies, since our staff are in contact with the captain, from the arrival of the ship, during its stay and upon departure, providing instructions originating from shipowners.”
In Santos, the two-hour strike was coordinated by the Port Unit, an entity that brings together workers unions from the Santos pier. It is expected that a further 24-hour strike will take place this week if the Government doesn’t act by 11 May.
The possible strike will be defined jointly with the National Federation of Port Workers (FNP), the National Federation of Dockers (FNE) and the National Federation of Repairers, Port Watchers, Block Workers, Ushers and Ship Tiers , in Port Activities (Fenccovib).
Source: Port Strategy
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