Montevideo Port Terminal to Block Trucks Monday Amid Union Dispute

The Terminal Cuenca del Plata (TCP) at the Port of Montevideo will halt truck reception on Monday, July 13, 2026, as a result of an ongoing union conflict. The situation is expected to be addressed in a tripartite meeting involving workers, the company, and the Ministry of Labor.

The core of the dispute lies in the renewal of a collective bargaining agreement for the terminal's 550 employees. TCP is jointly owned by the Belgian logistics operator Katoen Natie, holding an 80% stake, and the National Ports Administration, which holds the remaining 20%. The previous agreement has expired, leading to the current impasse.

Workers are scheduled to cease activities at 7:00 AM local time for an assembly, followed by the tripartite meeting. They will reconvene afterward to discuss the outcomes and decide on further actions. However, TCP has accused the union of maintaining strike measures despite a commitment to facilitate negotiations without disruptions, potentially impacting the normalization of activities.

Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi described the conflict as "complex" and stated it has him "very worried." He has engaged in discussions with the Minister of Labor and the PIT-CNT union confederation to find a resolution. The president indicated that declaring the activity essential, a measure taken when a service disruption causes significant problems, has not yet been considered necessary.

Business organizations in Uruguay have urged the government to intervene, warning that the persistent conflict is jeopardizing the country's foreign trade. They highlighted that over thirty days of operational disruptions occurred in 2025, and the current year has already seen 25 such days. These organizations question how long the national economy will be impacted by "particular conflicts."