Some 4,000 dockworkers in Santos, Brazil, South America’s top port, carried out a wildcat and possibly illegal strike and picket Monday, slowing movement at four port terminals, including the two leading container facilities in the port. Stevedores in Santos especially targeted Brasil Terminal Portuario, where they picketed the entrance and caused a good deal of dislocation for 12 hours, starting at 7 a.m. The strike was originally set to last for 24 hours, but both the Sindestiva dockers union and Union of Port Operators State São Paulo, or Sopesp, which represents port employers, agreed to further talks Wednesday. The Santos Brasil box terminal and two grain terminals were also affected, but Embraport, Ecoporto, and Grupo Libra’s two container terminals were not affected, although the reason for this is not yet clear.
