A group of workers with 10 to 20 years of seniority in their jobs were informed of their layoffs upon arriving at their work at the ex-Tabacal Sugar Mill in Salta. In response to this situation, the Sugar Workers Union of the Mill launched an indefinite strike at the company, to which the workers added a roadblock at the entrance to the town of Irigoyen.
The company issued a statement accusing the union of illegal coercions and of preventing employees and contractors from exercising their right to work. Furthermore, it announced that it would file criminal complaints in this regard. In response to this measure of force, authorities deployed a police presence in the area and Gendarmerie in the town.
The Minister of Production and Sustainable Development of Salta reported that they were evaluating the possibility of reversing the layoffs, although he justified these actions due to the complexity of the sector and the cost structures that companies are readjusting. The head of the union explained that the strike would continue until the reinstatement of the laid-off workers is achieved.
In another context, it was mentioned that Seabord, the company that owns the mill, has laid off a considerable number of workers in the past year, causing labor and social problems in the region. On the other hand, in Jujuy, the Ledesma sugar mill, owned by the Blaquier family, also announced layoffs of sugar workers, triggering a similar conflict.
Amidst this situation, the affected workers constitute an important part of the labor force in the northern region, and job options are limited, with Seabord being one of the main sources of employment. The union struggle continues in defense of labor rights and job stability in the area.
