News

After several weeks of demonstrations and strikes that have ground the Chilean postal service Correos de Chile to a halt, unions are hoping that a settlement may be forthcoming in the labour dispute.



Chilean unions SINACAR, SINTECH, Sindicato No. 1, and SOP and their members in the post have taken up industrial action after weeks of failed bargaining with Correos. The unions have closely coordinated actions since it became clear that the employer was not serious about bargaining in good faith and the negotiations stretched into a third week without progress. In the last week, hunger strikes among postal workers began in several places in the country and a number of demonstrators began to occupy a place on the banks of the Mapacho River.



The unions are hopeful, however, that settlement may come as soon as this week as their strikes and demonstrations have had a tremendous effect among their members and the general public. Correos tabled another offer with the unions late last week and a nationwide ballot is expected to be returned early this week.