September 19, 2008

Argentina's grain truckers and exporters signed an agreement late Wednesday ( September 18, 2008) to avoid a resumption of strikes and picketing of port complexes, according to local press reports.

The parties agreed to cooperate in preventing undocumented transport and to ensure compliance with prior wage agreements, local daily La Nacion reported.

The agreement also included a series of measures to improve conditions at the entrances to the ports.

During harvest season, truckers often wait over 12 hours in long lines to unload their cargos at the main processing and port complexes.

Earlier this month, the truckers picketed grain processing and port complexes across the country.

The truckers 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.

The blockades were lifted last week to facilitate talks.