Fenatraporchi Threatens Legal Strike Over Collective Bargaining Blockade

The National Federation of Port Workers of Chile (Fenatraporchi) warned that it would exercise its right to a legal strike and other actions if collective bargaining with state-owned port companies is blocked, based on—as they accuse—an interpretation of Treasury Circular N°18.

In a statement, the organization expressed its "rejection of Treasury Circular N°18 being interpreted as an absolute prohibition to negotiate economic improvements in state-owned port companies. Collective bargaining is not a privilege or a political concession: it is a labor right recognized by the Labor Code, freedom of association, and international conventions ratified by Chile."

Fenatraporchi stated that "an administrative circular cannot replace the law or transform collective bargaining into a meaningless procedure. If a company comes to the table asserting that it cannot negotiate matters with economic impact, then there is no real dialogue or good faith negotiation. Likewise, Fenatraporchi declares that, if the State's intransigence persists, the unions will use all mechanisms recognized by the current legal framework, including strikes, in accordance with the procedures of the Labor Code."

The group pointed out that "Resolution 18 cannot be used as an absolute prohibition to negotiate economic benefits. Each company must negotiate according to its economic reality, its results, and the effective contribution of its workers. If there are profits, transfers, investments, and achievement of goals, there must also be fair labor recognition."

"The Federation will activate legal, union, political, communication, and international channels to defend its unions. The conflict must be understood as a regional issue: ports sustain employment, trade, connectivity, tourism, and territorial development," the organization affirmed.

"We call on the Government, Treasury, SEP, boards of directors, and parliamentarians from the regions to open a real space for solutions. The Federation does not seek conflict, but neither will it accept the emptying of collective bargaining. If the State insists on closing the paths of dialogue, the workers will exercise their right to strike and all corresponding actions to defend a fair, equitable, and law-abiding negotiation," the organization stated in the document.

"The 2025 financial results show that state-owned port companies are not in an unsustainable situation. Therefore, it is appropriate to seriously, responsibly, and fairly discuss the recognition of their workers' contributions. Without workers, there is no port. Without real negotiation, there is no labor justice. Without labor justice, there is no modern public company or sustainable regional development," the organization concluded in the statement.