December 29, 2020
More than 140 grain ships in Argentina affected by port-side oilseed workers' strike
Gustavo Idigoras, chief of CIARA-CEC, Argentina's chamber of soymeal manufacturers, said the loading of more than 140 grains export ships in Argentina has been stalled because of a strike by port-side oilseed workers since December 9, Reuters reported.
The CIARA-CEC chamber will meet with two main unions representing oilseed workers on December 29 to agree to a wage compensation package for next year. The Argentine government is sponsoring the talks, with negotiations overseen by the Labour Ministry.
Daniel Succi, an official with the SOEA oilseed workers' union, said both sides accuse the other of being inflexible, adding that they will continue the strike.
The CIARA-CEC chamber has offered a 25% pay increase that will come in three phases through August 2021, with another increase at end-2021 to be based on inflation. Workers have demanded a one-shot 25% increase through August.
In addition, the workers have demanded a bonus to be paid for working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The chamber has offered ARS 70,000 (~US$840) while the unions have demanded a one-off ARS 130,000 payment, according to CIARA-CEC.
Official data showed Argentina's inflation at 35.8% in the 12 months through November 2020.
The labour groups has also demanded for workers' regular annual bonus to be 35% higher than the bonus received last year, with an additional guarantee that workers will be paid for the days they went on strike.
Another group that has joined the strike, the Urgara union representing port-side grains inspectors, will negotiate contracts with Argentina's CPPC private ports chamber. An Urgara spokesman said they have not had any dialogue with CPPC.
Argentina is the biggest supplier of soymeal livestock feed in the world. Because of the strike, only a few soybean cargo trucks have managed to unload at port terminals, affecting an industry that serves as Argentina's main source of foreign currency.
- Reuters
