Buenos Aires, Dec 16 (NA) – The Chamber of the Oilseed Industry of the Argentine Republic (CIARA) and the Argentine Chamber of Biofuels (CARBIO) questioned the decision of the Federation of Workers of the Oilseed Industrial Complex (FTCIODyARA) to adhere to the general strike called by the CGT for next December 18. In a statement released on social media, the business entities expressed their “surprise” and “strongly” questioned the forceful measure, arguing that there are no labor reasons to justify it. “The oilseed industry is surprised and strongly questions the decision of the FTCIODyARA to decree a national strike in the face of a collective bargaining agreement that sealed social peace until mid-2026, as agreed by unions and industry; even more so, without there being a single pending union claim,” stated CIARA and CARBIO. The business chambers maintained that “there are no objective reasons to decree the strike” and warned that “everything indicates that it is motivated by political reasons external to the industry.” In response, the entities announced that “all measures provided for by law will be taken.” The conflict arises after the FTCIODyARA communicated through a formal note to the business chambers its adherence to the mobilization called by the CGT, which will have its epicenter at Plaza de Mayo and will be replicated in towns and regions throughout the country. The oilseed union called for a 24-hour strike on December 18, from 00:00 to 24:00, with the objective of allowing “all oilseed and desmodding workers” to participate in the active force measure with a march. The oilseed sector is key to the Argentine economy, as it represents a significant part of the country's exports through the production and marketing of oils, meals, and biodiesel derived mainly from soy.
