The union of exporters has reported losses of $145 million, and more than 12,000 shipping containers held up because of the blockades which have now been going on for more than a week.
Reports indicate that two shipping companies have suspended operations at the ports and announced they will not disembark because of "inability to ensure the safety of their staff."This is just one example of the serious damage caused to in the country by the blockades and demonstrations held by truckers for almost a week at customs offices and ports in Guatemala.
In Costa Rica the will of the state to impose the rule of law against the de facto power exercised by any conglomerate continues to shrink.
The concessionaire APM Terminals has reported losses of up to $200,000 a day because of blockades by truckers who are obstructing the route to the construction site for the container terminal in Moin.
At least 200 carriers have blocked route 257 in the Caribbean of Costa Rica for a fifth day, which has brought economic losses both for companies who have to use this route as well as the Dutch company APM Terminals. The road in question leads to the construction site of the Moin Container Terminal (TCM). According to APM Terminals each passing day will mean losses of some $200,000.
The Government and the union agreed to meet in the coming days to resolve complaints made by the industry, which resulted in two days of strikes and business losses of at least $10 million.
The blockade by truckers on the border between Costa Rica and Panama, organized by the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacarga) and the Truckers Union of Chiriqui (Sicachi), was suspended on the night of February 16, after a party from the Government of Panama went from the capital to the province of Chiriqui.
The union has exhausted dialogue with the regional government of Chiriqui and is a blockading the border preventing the movement of freight carriers in Central America.
The provincial government in Chiriqui has failed to prevent Panamanian carriers, organized by the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation in Panama, (Canatraca) from indefinitely blocking the passage of trucks across the border in Paso Canoas (information at time of going to press at 3:30 p.m).
Less than 24 hours after it started union leaders signed an agreement with the Solis administration to end the strike that had paralyzed ports and the sale of fuels.
The strike called by major unions in the country lasted less than 24 hours and did not achieved the "historic" call aimed for by the organizers, who negotiated an end to the strike with the government around midnight on October 26.
Regional unions are threatening a general strike in the Salvadoran border to protest at the rate of $18 per inspection at customs offices in that country.
S21.com.gt reports: "The new provision of the General Customs of El Salvador will take effect on 6 January, in light of this, carriers of the remaining five countries in the region have announced a general strike on the Salvadoran border if this legislation goes ahead. "
After the Salvadoran Supreme Court suspended the Fonat law, carriers decided to resume their work.
"There is no longer a reason for the strike," said Raul Alfaro, president of the Association of International Cargo Transporters (ASTIC).
"The Chamber accepted a constitutional challenge submitted by the ASTIC against the collection of accident insurance, namely the Fund for Victims of Traffic Accidents (Fonat), from which the Legislature excluded foreign transporters, but not Salvadorans," noted an article in Elsalvador.com.
The Central Council of Transport has announced a three-day strike in protest against El Salvador levying a tax on freight carriers of between $35 and $250.
Laprensa.com.ni reports that "the measure will affect all regional trade, because the rest of the international freight carriers from the isthmus will join the strike 'in solidarity' in order to send a message to other governments who have created new taxes on trade merchandise ... ".
The main freight union of Central America has issued an ultimatum to the government of El Salvador to modify the collection of the new tax levied at customs offices.
Representatives of these unions which integrate the Central American Council of Transport have given a deadline of May 31 to amend this charge, otherwise on that date, if Congress has not amended the law which created the new tax, the truckers will go on strike for an undefined period causing heavy losses to Central American companies.
Transportation companies landed an agreement with authorities after eight days of strike, with over $1.8 million in losses.
According to the agreement, authorities will withdraw a $6 increase in the fumigation fee.
“The document also states that if Panama requires a fumigation or atomization service, it must be based on a risk analysis that considers adequate protection levels and the effect it might have over human beings”, reported Prensa.com.
Carriers have been on strike for five days now at the Paso Canoas border between Costa Rica and Panama; they reject an increase in fumigation fees.
On June 15, the Panamanian delegation of the OIRSA, a regional health authority, increased from $5 to $11 the fee charged to trucks when fumigating cargo trucks.
“Veranado Ríos, from the Transportation Union of Chiriquí, Panama, assured that this increase was put in place without consulting any business chamber, union or association”, reported Nacion.com.
Spirit’s pilots went back to work; the company will resume operations on Friday 18.
The pilots of the airline, together with the International Pilot’s Association (ALPA) announced that they’ve reached a tentative agreement with the company.
The new contract, unanimously recommended by the pilot’s union, must still be ratified by ALPA.
In order to compensate its customers for the time off the air, the airline is offering a special promotion, consisting on a $50 coupon and 5,000 miles for its Free Spirit customer program.
Truckers from both countries are protesting a $5 increase in vehicle fumigation fees and slow procedures in the customs office at Paso Canoa.
On June 15, Oirsa, a regional health authority, increased the phytosanitary fumigation costs at borders from $6 to $11.
An article in Prensa.com remarks that “Juan Carlos Segura, from the Costa Rican National Transportation Chamber, explained they decided to paralyze transport since yesterday at 8:00 for an undefined time, until this surcharge is removed”.