Chilean wellboat workers begin strike
Union members working for wellboat operator Naviera Orca Chile have started an indefinite strike to win improved pay and conditions.
The officers and crew members want pay levels of longer-serving employees to be brought up to the level as that of new employees.
They also want their shift pattern changed from 22 days on and 11 off to 20 days on and 18 off.
5% increase
Union president César Rojas told Fish Farming Expert’s Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl, that Naviera Orca’s management wouldn’t accede to the demands, and “that is why all the people of our union are protesting in the street”.
The union chief said workers were offered a 5% increase, but that was below the remuneration of newly hired workers. “With this, we do not want new workers to earn less, but respect and take into account years of service, track record and experience.”
Freedom of association
Also, Rojas added that Naviera Orca was only prepared to reach an agreement if the union withdrew complaints to the authorities for possible anti-union and unfair practices. “We will not accept that our freedom of association is conditioned,” he said.
Rojas stated that the current strike is indefinite, “until the employer deigns to sit down with us to talk about improvements for the workers, which unfortunately has not materialised at the moment, so we will continue with this.”
Naviera Orca operates three Norwegian-built wellboats in Chile, with a fourth, the Orca Yka, due for delivery from Norway’s Larsnes shipyard in March. It will be the company’s biggest and most sophisticated vessel and is contracted to work for Salmones Camanchaca.
