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Original article: Tripulantes de remolcadores Ultratug denuncian presiones, despidos y diferencias de trato: Sindicato anuncia acciones

The Union No. 1 of Ultratug Limited Tugboat Crew Members has publicly raised concerns regarding the working conditions of its members, including pressures to change home ports, layoffs attributed to company needs followed by new hires, and what they describe as discriminatory treatment between crew members and officers.

This labor organization represents 130 workers who are part of the crews operating Ultratug’s tugboats across various ports in the country, from Arica to Punta Arenas.

Workers explained that for many years, the personnel were managed through Administradora de Naves Humboldt. In November 2024, the tugboat crews were transferred to Ultratug Limited, with the union asserting that their labor rights and obligations continued under Article 4, paragraph two of the Labor Code.

The union claims that at the time of the transfer, they were assured that the conditions established in their collective agreement would be upheld. However, they state that they are now facing a different reality. One of the main issues raised concerns potential pressures for workers to accept changes to their home ports.

The union argues that these decisions significantly affect crew members, due to the lengthy periods of embarkation and the family consequences that working in a different area from the originally assigned port may cause.

Union leaders report that among the workers, there is fear that rejecting these changes could jeopardize their job security.

Concerns Over Layoffs

The union has also criticized the use of company needs as a justification for dismissing workers, particularly in instances where, according to them, new hires have occurred shortly afterward.

The organization believes this situation raises doubts about the validity of certain layoffs and has signaled that they will evaluate appropriate actions regarding cases they deem unjustified.

Another issue raised concerns what the workers call unequal treatment between crew and officers. The union claims to have informed the company of instances of mistreatment and behaviors that could jeopardize operational safety, noting that a consistent approach may not always be taken depending on the position of the worker involved.

Furthermore, they questioned what they perceive as contradictory criteria regarding events investigated by the Maritime Authority, stating that while some cases awaited the investigation results, others led to dismissals despite pending inquiries.

Assembly Agrees to Take Action

In response to this situation, the workers held an Extraordinary Assembly where they collectively agreed to support their members and pursue appropriate union, administrative, and judicial actions if the reported issues persist.

«We do not ask for privileges. We demand equal treatment, strict respect for the collective agreement, serious investigations, and protection for whistleblowers. No worker should risk their job for reporting what they consider wrong,» stated representatives from the union.

The organization expressed its willingness to maintain dialogue with the company, but warned that it would employ all legal and union resources available to defend its members’ rights.

«No more abuses. No more fear. No more unequal treatment. The dignity of workers and collective agreements must be respected,» they concluded.

We will continue to provide updates.

La entrada Ultratug Tugboat Crew Members Report Pressures, Job Losses, and Discrimination: Union Announces Actions se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.