Chilean unrest

Steve Anderson of The Santiago Times reported last week of unrest at a Chilean exporting company. From the Aug. 9 report by Anderson;

Chile’s fresh fruit industry - already under siege by a highly unfavorable U.S. dollar exchange rate and the harshest winter in decades – on Monday experienced another sharp jolt: the first “worker take-over” of a fruit export company to occur in nearly 40 years. Pacific Nut - one of Chile’s most important nut, almond and plum export firms - was temporarily closed down Monday morning when striking workers blocked access to two of the company’s facilities.

TK: Striking workers were looking for better salaries, better working conditions, compensation for travel expenses. At the heart of the issue is whether workers are considered full or part time, since Chilean law does not give labor organizing rights to part time or seasonal workers.