Operations at the Terminal Cuenca del Plata (TCP), particularly truck services, were halted from Monday, June 22 until the afternoon of Wednesday, June 24, as a result of meetings held by the TCP-Nelsury union. A decision that Katoen Natie, majority shareholder and operator of TCP, described as “untimely and irrational.”
According to a statement issued by the firm, part of the multinational business group of Belgian origin, the strike action was carried out despite the existence of official negotiation sessions scheduled before the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Uruguay for this Wednesday, June 24, and the following weeks.
The entity detailed that the union unexpectedly broke the prior agreements reached at the last meeting, where both parties had committed to exchanging new proposals on the guaranteed daily wage system.
“The public in general and, especially, the transport community are informed that operations were temporarily halted due to a decision by the Union. The measure was untimely and irrational, and was carried out within the framework of negotiations for a new collective agreement. Negotiations that were ongoing (by agreement of the parties) within the scope of the Ministry of Labor, and for which meetings had been scheduled (June 24 at 10 a.m., and the following Wednesdays),” reported Katoen Natie.
“At the last meeting, the parties agreed that this Wednesday, the 24th, new proposals would be exchanged on the first topic under discussion (guaranteed daily wages). Unexpectedly, on Sunday night the Union decided to interrupt the exchange of proposals and halt activities starting Monday, June 22 at 7:30 a.m., resuming activities today at 7 a.m. Incredibly, the Union interrupted activities again from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” it added.
In line with what the company indicated, the “conflict measures” would have been taken by the union despite TCP proposing “to extend the last collective agreement for the entire duration of the negotiations for this new agreement. On the topic that the Union was willing to discuss, the company was always willing to discuss a formula for guaranteed daily wages. Specifically, it offered a minimum of 16 guaranteed daily wages (which far exceeds what was agreed by this same Union for this sector of activity).”
Furthermore, the operator stated that “it proposed, via email, to be able to discuss other topics, of economic content for specific sectors of different categories. Which the Union has refused. It was offered in writing to have more weekly meetings, so that exchanges would be faster. The Union did not want to. It was proposed to the Union to negotiate with the commitment that what is agreed upon be retroactive to June 1. This was also rejected,” it added.
Given the decision of the TCP-Nelsury union, Katoen Natie emphasized that “furthermore, the union measures were adopted, with the Union being aware that today (June 24) the company would present a new proposal on guaranteed daily wages. This had been agreed upon.”
Lamentablemente las medidas sindicales fueron irresistibles para la Empresa, la cual lógicamente vio interrumpida la mesa de intercambio”.
“En la reunión que se llevó a cabo esta mañana (miércoles 24 de junio) en el Ministerio, la empresa manifestó que mantiene su clara vocación de negociar, y así recomponer la mesa de diálogo y de negociación con el Sindicato, en forma inmediata al reinicio de actividades con normalidad. Pero que no es posible mantener negociaciones bajo medidas”, complementó.
Cabe mencionar que el sindicato TCP-Nelsury agrupa a los trabajadores de Nelsury S.A., una empresa tercerizada de servicios logísticos y operativos que desempeña tareas clave dentro de TCP, en el Puerto de Montevideo. Los diálogos y diferencias entre operador y gremial se arrastran desde 2025.
La gremial cuenta en sus filas con amarradores, estibadores, operadores de maquinaria y personal de mantenimiento; asimismo, está afiliada al Sindicato Único Portuario y Ramas Afines (Supra).
