The company FATE confirmed on Friday during a meeting at the Buenos Aires provincial Ministry of Labor its decision to close the plant and lay off its 920 workers. The SUTNA union denounces that the company, despite announcing on February 18 that it would comply with the ruling from the national government, refused to restart the plant's operations and failed to pay the salaries corresponding to the second half of February. The union leader detailed that the court not only orders the payment of overdue salaries but also mandates payment as each period comes due until the end of June, emphasizing the workers' justification for their demands. The workers are calling on the company to stop playing with the reality of the families' lives, as it is now legally obligated by the justice system, and to immediately generate the payment of workers' salaries. The judicial ruling, known yesterday, obliges the company to respect the salary agreement signed before the closure until June of this year. The court ruled that the agreement between FATE and SUTNA is valid until June 30, 2026, meaning the company must pay the salaries of all workers on the payroll at the time of its signing in May 2025. The plant has been closed for a month and a half due to the owners' decision. The conflict, which has lasted for over 40 days, puts 920 jobs at stake and threatens the only manufacturer of tires for trucks and buses in the country. The SUTNA union has received support from the Camioneros drivers' union and is seeking the backing of the CGT. The provincial government of Buenos Aires is evaluating a bill project for the temporary occupation of the plant to guarantee production continuity and preserve jobs.
