MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mar del Plata fishermen return to sea

The 71 days fishing industry conflict that paralyzed the Argentine fresh-high seas Mar del Plata based fleet is over after a much debated 180 days truce was agreed following intense negotiations and mediation from provincial legislators.

"Today (Wednesday) the crew member union assembly with over 800 voting, decided to lift the strike and return to sea", said Pablo Trueba spokesperson for the union.

A pre-accord statement was signed in the Labour Ministry by all the unions involved in the conflict (crew, masters and engineers) with the High seas Vessel Owners Association and the Argentine Fishing Industry Chamber.

"This is not definitive but rather opens a 180 days negotiations period to discuss a new collective pay agreement for the fishing sector", added Mr. Trueba. Apparently one of the main points of the pre-accord is that crew members do not drop or give up their claim to be paid in US dollars.

"For the crews union the 1998 and 2000 historic agreements with vessel owners remain effective: our salaries must be paid based on the US currency", underlined Mr. Trueba. Actually the agreements in US dollars can be interpreted as over ruled following the Argentine government's bill of 2002 which "pesified" (converted into pesos) all standing debts and contracts, following the collapse of the economy and default.

"We will continue to discuss the new agreement based on the 1998 and 2000 agreements", insisted Mr. Trueba.