09-21-2019, 05:09 PM
![[Image: dfTDy5P.png]](https://i.imgur.com/dfTDy5P.png)
PUNTA SANTIAGO, ALDURIA (NABC News) -- The Aldurian Union of Teamsters and two of the nation's largest shipping companies started negotiations today, during which progress has been made on their labor contract talks, however, “many” outstanding issues remain, according to a union leader overseeing the talks.
The AUT voted to strike overwhelmingly two days ago, as negotiations for a five-year contract broke down. AUT Vice President Fernando Litte said, ”Progress has been made, but there are still many of our memberships’ issues that remain unresolved,” according to a letter sent to members Thursday.
The strike is set to begin in two weeks. Roughly 50,000 union workers with Alduria Logistics and Kerularios & Company are walking picket lines outside the port facilities of the City of Punta Santiago.
“This strike is for all the right reasons: to raise the standard of living of our members and their families and for workers across this city, to achieve true job security, our fair share of the profits, affordable health care, and an end to the reclassification of our workers as independent contractors,” he said in the letter.
Litte also thanked members “for their loyalty and passionate support” as negotiators “take on their most crucial issues in this set of negotiations.”
The strike will begin if both sides fail to reach at least a tentative deal in two weeks. Negotiators from both sides have agreed to seek a two-year deal instead of the original five-year deal. The strike would be the first strike conducted by the union and against the shipping companies in their history.
The strike is estimated to cost each company upwards of 100 million écu a day in lost productions, according to analysts from the Punta Santiago stock exchange.
Spokespersons from Alduria Logistics and Kerularios & Company confirmed all parties are “continuing to meet” but declined to comment directly on details of the letter.
The AUT voted to strike overwhelmingly two days ago, as negotiations for a five-year contract broke down. AUT Vice President Fernando Litte said, ”Progress has been made, but there are still many of our memberships’ issues that remain unresolved,” according to a letter sent to members Thursday.
The strike is set to begin in two weeks. Roughly 50,000 union workers with Alduria Logistics and Kerularios & Company are walking picket lines outside the port facilities of the City of Punta Santiago.
“This strike is for all the right reasons: to raise the standard of living of our members and their families and for workers across this city, to achieve true job security, our fair share of the profits, affordable health care, and an end to the reclassification of our workers as independent contractors,” he said in the letter.
Litte also thanked members “for their loyalty and passionate support” as negotiators “take on their most crucial issues in this set of negotiations.”
The strike will begin if both sides fail to reach at least a tentative deal in two weeks. Negotiators from both sides have agreed to seek a two-year deal instead of the original five-year deal. The strike would be the first strike conducted by the union and against the shipping companies in their history.
The strike is estimated to cost each company upwards of 100 million écu a day in lost productions, according to analysts from the Punta Santiago stock exchange.
Spokespersons from Alduria Logistics and Kerularios & Company confirmed all parties are “continuing to meet” but declined to comment directly on details of the letter.