Operations at Terminal Cuenca del Plata (TCP), Uruguay’s main container terminal at the Port of Montevideo, remain severely restricted after workers began an indefinite strike over a new collective agreement.
The industrial action began at 10:00 local time on September 7, with the TCP-Nelsury workers’ union subsequently deciding to continue the stoppage without setting an end date. A minimum staffing arrangement is allowing limited activity, but normal terminal operations have not resumed.
The disruption is affecting both vessel and landside operations. Only limited quay activity is taking place, while the empty-container yard is not operating. Trucking companies have also reported severe delays, with waiting times reaching up to 18 hours in some cases.
Uruguay’s freight transport association estimates that the disruption is costing logistics companies around US$400,000–US$500,000 per day in lost turnover. Authorities have stressed that the labour dispute is limited to TCP and does not affect the entire Port of Montevideo.
TCP, which is majority-owned by Katoen Natie, said the staffing level provided during the strike is insufficient to maintain operational continuity and indicated that it could pursue legal or administrative measures if necessary.
Negotiations between the company, workers and Uruguay’s Ministry of Labour are continuing. The union has indicated it is prepared to accept the company’s latest proposal if the proposed collective agreement is shortened from five years to two years.
The prolonged stoppage could lead to further vessel delays, truck queues and cargo-handling disruptions if a settlement is not reached. For shipping lines, exporters and importers, the situation adds uncertainty to container flows through Uruguay’s principal maritime gateway.