The guild of oil and biodiesel companies in Argentina issued a statement warning about the possibility of starting a national strike if illegal measures by companies in the sector continue. According to the statement, breaches of collective agreements, non-payment of parity agreements, and unjustified dismissals are reported.
The statement highlights the case of the Explora biodiesel plant in Puerto General San Martín, where four workers were dismissed under false pretenses after a work stoppage to demand an extraordinary bonus. The union is in the middle of parity negotiations that were supposed to close in December and denounces the infringement of workers' rights by several companies.
Daniel Yofra, Secretary General of the Oil Workers Federation, stated: "We see that companies do not offer us a salary that meets the needs of the workers." Conflicts are mentioned in companies such as Vicentín and Renopack, where issues have been recorded regarding compliance with labor agreements and arbitrary dismissals.
In the case of Viterra in Bahía Blanca, now owned by Bunge, the company is accused of trying to ignore the labor rights of its employees, leading to situations of militarization and arbitrary dismissals of striking workers. Regarding Dánica in Llavallol, the company decided to close its plant in December 2024, leaving all workers unemployed.
The Union of Oil Workers and Employees of San Lorenzo and the Federation of Workers of the Oilseed Industrial Complex have warned about the possibility of a national strike due to non-compliance with the payment of a bonus agreed upon in December and lack of progress in parity negotiations in the sector, a measure that would significantly impact the oil and biodiesel industrial circuit, with repercussions on traffic and logistics in Greater Rosario.