Port workers denounce breach of agreement and signal potential strike at Port of Natal

Port workers in Rio Grande do Norte are set to decide this Friday (27) whether to go on strike at the Port of Natal. The mobilization is driven by allegations that a collective labor agreement has not been honored, as well as deadlocks in recent wage negotiations with Companhia Docas do Rio Grande do Norte (Codern).

According to the Union of Port Service Workers of Rio Grande do Norte (Sindport-RN), the collective agreement signed on December 15, 2022, established a 24.35% wage increase, with a guaranteed minimum raise of R$500 in base salary. In practice, this meant that if the percentage increase resulted in less than R$500, the adjustment should be automatically raised to that amount.

Union president Magno Santos claims that this rule was not applied to most categories. He states that only higher-level employees received the adjustment as agreed, while others were granted only the percentage increase, with the difference up to R$500 paid as a separate bonus that was not incorporated into base wages.

The union argues that this model has led to losses over time, as the additional amount is not considered in promotions or career progression calculations. It estimates that around 100 workers were affected, mainly those with lower salaries, and notes cases in which base pay fell below the minimum wage.

The category has also raised concerns about the pace of current negotiations. According to the union, after a 1.5% increase granted in a subsequent agreement, the latest proposal from Codern is 3.1%. Combined, these figures amount to a 4.6% increase over four years, below inflation for the period. Another demand is the payment of hazard pay for operational workers.

The assembly scheduled for the 27th will decide on a state of strike and a possible work stoppage. The proposal under discussion includes an initial phase of mobilization, including public demonstrations in front of the company, the use of sound trucks, and partial stoppages, which could escalate into a full strike if negotiations do not progress.

Contacted by Diário do RN, Codern stated that the current Collective Labor Agreement remains valid and that negotiations for the next period are ongoing. The company said it has already presented a proposal, which is under review by the workers.

Regarding the allegations, Codern stated that payments stipulated in the agreement are being made and that there is a disagreement over the calculation method, which is currently under judicial review. The company also denied that any workers are earning below the minimum wage and said that the measures adopted have primarily benefited the operational sector.

As for hazard pay, Codern said its application follows court-mandated expert assessments and complies with legal standards. The company also emphasized that it maintains dialogue with the category within budgetary and legal constraints.

The potential impacts of a work stoppage remain uncertain and depend on port activity during the period. According to the union, operations scheduled for May—such as the first shipment of live cargo, which requires specific handling—could be affected. Traffic in the Ribeira neighborhood may also be impacted during mobilization activities.

Source: Diário do RN

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