The San Lorenzo Oil Workers and Employees Union (SOEA) has decided to completely halt operations in all factories and ports in the Rosario region. The business chambers CIARA and CEC reported that this measure is due to incidents that occurred at the facilities of Explora, a company specializing in biodiesel production, although they emphasized that the conflict at that company is not related to the industry they represent.
Representatives from CIARA-CEC also pointed out that they are currently under mandatory conciliation since the night before the events. Spokespersons for the oil companies have warned that the acts of paralysis are illegal and that they are filing the corresponding complaints. Furthermore, they are calling on union leaders to return to the negotiation table and put aside personal political objectives.
For their part, union sources have reported that the Prefecture intervened to evacuate a group of workers near Explora, proceeding with repression. In response to this situation, SOEA San Lorenzo has declared a strike in the area. It is worth mentioning that this union is not part of the Oil Federation, which brings together various unions from across the country, so for now, the strike is limited to that region.
The conflict has intensified due to problems at Explora, which did not pay the annual bonus for 2024, leading workers to carry out a work stoppage. As a consequence, the company fired four employees. This event, combined with the lack of salary negotiations in the sector and the delay in the payment of 30% of salaries by Vicentin, were the triggering reasons for the strike that started yesterday and against which mandatory conciliation was imposed.
The unions have emphasized that the conflict at Explora represents a new issue that is not subject to the previously mandated mandatory conciliation.
