South America Calling

Brazil's main port unions will not strike Thursday, as previously announced, while they study changes to laws governing port operations, a stevedores union leader said late Wednesday.

"We will not make any decision until we have looked at new measures," said Robson Wilson dos Santos, director of the Brazilian Federation of Stevedores.

Labor unions are in disagreement with a presidential decree, issued last year, which allows private terminals to employ non-union staff. The measure is part of a larger plan to increase efficiency and stimulate investment at Brazilian ports.

The decree is being altered during its passage through Congress and the latest draft proposal, published Wednesday, appears to offer key concessions to unions, including the maintenance of some closed-shop practices at private terminals.

"It is too early to say but the new proposals appear to move in our direction," said Santos.

The decision to call off the strike will be of great relief to soy, corn and sugar exporters, who are already facing massive delays at Brazilian ports as the overburdened infrastructure fails to cope.

Santos said the stevedores' federation will have a definitive position on the new bill proposal by next week.

Sindaport, a union that represents port administration workers, will also not strike this week, a spokeswoman said.

(AG)

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