Members of SUTRAMPORPC

Hundreds of union dockworkers are without work during the strike. The union called on the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and Peruvian authorities to intervene over allegations that APM Terminals was acting illegally and disregarding the risks to health by using seafarers to assist with unloading containers.

The dockers’ strike at Callao port in Peru has been underway for over a week now and based on the current development there is no solution in sight as talks have been suspended.

ITF-affiliate Sutramporpc has accused APM of intransigence in refusing to negotiate over workers’ demands for fair pay and of acting illegally, as in Peru crew from vessels are not authorised to undertake unloading in port, given their lack of expertise. The union has suspended talks “until the company shows genuine interest in ending the dispute”.

Five members and leaders of Sutramporpc, including the secretary general, were arrested by state intelligence officers on the first day of the strike on 13 May.

The men were released without charge several hours later, after the ITF wrote to president Ollanta Humala to demand their release and the union denounced the arrests to Callao’s judge and ombudsman’s office, stating that they violated the freedom of the individual and the freedom of association, on which the ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association had already issued an opinion.

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