The workers of Granja Tres Arroyos, the main poultry company in Argentina, mobilized in Concepción del Uruguay demanding the payment of overdue salaries and the preservation of job positions. The union claims that the company is relocating production to other plants in Gualeguay and Buenos Aires, which they interpret as a strategy to simulate a non-existent crisis in the local plant and thus reduce the workforce or wages.
The company argues that it is facing a serious financial crisis, which led it to request a Preventive Crisis Procedure in December, with the intention of laying off 700 employees or reducing wages by eliminating 21% of salaries. This measure broke the compulsory conciliation that was in effect.
Tension escalated when the La China plant announced the suspension of slaughtering "until further notice," leaving over 1,000 families who depend on this source of work in uncertainty. The conflict began when the company eliminated additional salary payments, representing a reduction of 11% to 20% in employee income.
Despite mediation by the Ministry of Labor and the compulsory conciliation issued, the company decided to halt operations, failing to comply with the agreement and deepening the conflict. The general secretary of STIA reported that the company did not allow workers access to the plant and evicted those present.
Employees and their families held a demonstration requesting the intervention of the local mayor. Although the national government supported the situation, the union's resistance initially succeeded in halting layoffs, which have ultimately been partially implemented. The company claims to be experiencing difficulties due to the closure of the Chinese market for exports and to high production and labor costs.
The situation has yet to find a resolution. Affected workers carried out a massive mobilization on Sunday, marching through the streets with banners and flags. Another mobilization is expected in the future.
