September 12, 2008

Argentina grain truckers, exporters in talks to end strike

Argentina's grain truckers and exporters entered a second day of negotiations Thursday (September 11), with both sides hoping to reach an agreement to end strikes and picketing of port complexes.

Talks were still going on as of 5:00 P.M. local time (2000 GMT), a trucker's union spokesman said.

The truckers have been picketing grain processing and port complexes across the country for two weeks, threatening operations struggling to catch up with export commitments after a series of farm strikes earlier this year.

The truckers, who are demanding increased compensation and benefits, have partially blocked deliveries to the southern Buenos Aires ports of Quequen and Bahia Blanca, and the Rosario ports of San Martin, San Lorenzo and Ramallo.

While the blockades have slowed deliveries, most trucks have managed to evade the pickets and unload their goods.