José Gutiérrez, a union delegate of the workers at a metalworking plant represented by the UOM, reported a maneuver by the multinational at the Ministry of Labor in La Plata. The complaint indicates that the company allegedly carried out a shutdown of a production line, resulting in the signing and termination of 50 workers under duress. The inaction of the UOM leadership in the face of layoffs and the employers' offensive poses a challenge for metalworkers in their struggle to defend their rights and jobs.
In his complaint, José Gutiérrez, a recognized representative of the workers, recounted an incident with the production manager, who aggressively confronted him for wearing clothing related to the UOM. The persecution against Gutiérrez and the repressive atmosphere in the plant are part of the employers' strategy to increase productivity and cut labor rights, even hiring personnel from Chile to operate the allegedly closed production line.
The dismissal of three workers, including Gutiérrez, played a discriminatory role by attacking their union activities. Three other employees refused to sign termination agreements and were also dismissed. The company Ball, formerly Rexan, a multinational in the Burzaco Industrial Park, has been described as an entity that violates labor rights and operates outside the current legality, resorting to covert and explicit dismissals, mistreatment, and union persecution in its plant reconversion process.