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Forestry Contractors and Port Strike: "A Solution is Needed, But Not After Waiting 50 Days"

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• A leader of Acorofag stated that the loss of markets caused by the forceful action in Coronel will be difficult to recover.

The manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors (Acorofag), René Muñoz, joined the criticism over the prolonged strike at Puerto Coronel, highlighting the consequences for economic activity.

When analyzing the effects of the forceful action at the Biobío region's port terminal, he condemned what he described as the protesters' intransigence and the authorities' lack of solutions. Additionally, he pointed to unmet commercial commitments, damage to the country's image, and government irresponsibility for allowing the protests to continue, according to the leader.

The representative of the forestry association noted that "when inflexible positions are maintained, which ultimately lead to the current deadlock, it's not the best news."

In the same vein, he stated that "the positions of each side must also be analyzed. Intransigence does not lead to the solutions needed."

The Acorofag representative emphasized that "this port has an international perspective because it receives a lot of cargo from Argentina and serves as an export point for some fruit growers in southern Argentina."
For this reason, he demanded a swift solution to the crisis: "A solution is needed, but not after waiting 50 days like now," he commented.

René Muñoz warned that in the case of forestry exports, some of which are handled through the port of Coronel, "without a doubt, commitments and sales are tied to a schedule. Unfortunately, that schedule is not being met, and undoubtedly, the client will look for more reliable alternatives."

DAMAGE CAUSED
The forestry association's manager questioned whether "the workers are aware of the damage to the country. They are looking out for their conditions, but when a market is lost, it is very difficult to recover it because the specter of what happened will always be there."

René Muñoz called on "the involved parties to reflect and the government to say something, because this is entirely illegal—it is not framed within any negotiation or collective agreement."
"These are people who decided that certain conditions they are subjected to do not suit them and took the decision to paralyze the port, so the State must enforce the rule of law," he criticized.

The executive stated that "the constitution defines freedom of work, freedom to undertake, and here it is not being applied. The government has something to say, rather than watching from a balcony as things unfold between private parties."

The manager of Acoforag A.G. suggested that the handling of the conflict "shows a degree of improvisation and irresponsibility. The country and the region cannot afford to lose markets due to personal preferences. The workers or employers are causing great harm to Chile as an exporting country, which is what we depend on."

For this reason, René Muñoz also urged the parties to "show that we are a serious country, and with this precedent, we will be seen as unreliable."

Source:latribuna.cl