Santos Port Normal

Brazil's key port of Santos was functioning normally after warehouse workers voted on Monday evening last to end a strike over back pay, port officials said. Operations have normalised, the strike has ended, a spokesman for the port said. There were 26 vessels docked "" 21 at terminals of the port authority Codesp and five at private terminals "" and a further six vessels were waiting to dock, the spokesman said. The strike affected principally imports in the sectors of customs clearing and delivery, he said. In terms of exports, the cargo in Codesp terminals was affected but it is very difficult to estimate to what extent. A union official on Monday said negotiations were due to begin with Codesp at 0930 local/1230 GMT over the labour market conditions of warehouse workers. The Labour Tribunal in Sao Paulo has scheduled a hearing between the two parties for 1800GMT.