MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mounting losses in Chubut fisheries conflict

The month long conflict which has paralyzed the Argentine Patagonia Chubut province fisheries industry has forced the destruction and dumping of 59 tonnes valued in 80,000 US dollars reports La Nación. Forty seven tons were stored in freezer depots belonging to a processing plant and another twelve in a vessel docked in the port of Rawson.

The conflict began April 13 when the local branch of the Food Industry Workers' Union (STIA) went on strike demanding a 100% salary increase for fillet processors which was rejected by the Argentine-Patagonian Chamber of Fisheries Industries, CAPIP.

The strike has been accompanied by outbursts of violence and occupation of some processing plants with both sides holding strong to their positions. Mediation from the Labour and Social Security Ministry in Buenos Aires so far has been fruitless.

Apparently the loss of fish was deliberate. Strikers occupying the Iberpesca plant in Rawson turned the freezers energy off and port stevedores refused to unload 500 fish boxes from the trawler "San Giuseppe II".

However in Comodoro Rivadavia some companies have advanced negotiations and an understanding was reached between STIA and Argenova (the only CAPIP-member company), Arbumasa, Conarpesa, Mar del Chubut, and Pesquera del Sur. These companies have agreed to pay fillet processors the equivalent of 2,25 US dollars per hour and a minimum monthly wage of 350 US dollars for categories 1 and 2, and 385 US dollars for categories 3 and 4. In exchange the unions have agreed for twelve months of "social peace" (no labour conflicts).

But Luis Nuñez chairman of STIA speaking from Puerto Madryn denied any understanding and said the conflict is still on with the Puerto Madryn totally paralyzed. An optimist fisheries businessman representing CAPIP said that the "Comodoro Rivadavia agreement gives us a strong foundation on which to work and reach an understanding in Puerto Madryn".

Press reports indicate that the month long conflict has had a great impact in the local economy of Puerto Madryn since an estimated 5,000 jobs depend directly from the fishing industry. (FIS/MP).-