Workers at the Paycueros tannery in Uruguay, have returned to work but continue a rotating strike with no end date in sight. This follows the company’s sudden dismissal of 50 employees, despite earlier promises to delay such actions.
Antonio Ferreira, president of the Paycueros Workers Union (UTP), told that the layoffs were a surprise. The employees had been under unemployment insurance since last September, and the union had requested an extension of this coverage for three more months.
A few days earlier, the company had verbally agreed to apply for this 90-day extension from the National Social Security Directorate (Dinass), after several meetings with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS).
But when it came time to sign the deal, the company skipped the meeting and instead confirmed the layoffs through a public notary.
“There was no formal communication from the company”
Antonio Ferreira, President, Unión de Trabajadores de Paycueros (UTP)
Ferreira said the union remains open to dialogue, but it’s getting harder to find common ground with the company.
Adding to the tension, 130 more employees were placed on unemployment benefits. The union had proposed a rotating layoff system to avoid this mass suspension.
Carlos Bico, general secretary of the Leather Workers Union (UOC) and an employee at Paycueros, explained that the current measures impact about 180 workers.
Around 80 were placed on unemployment last week, 50 more will be next, and another 50 were outright dismissed. Before the layoffs, Paycueros had around 550 employees, and 75% of them were union members.
“Paycueros refused to sign the MTSS agreement and instead presented a new proposal that ignored the UOC and the ministry as legitimate parties”
Pit-Cnt, Uruguayan Trade Union Federation
Pit-Cnt criticized the company’s actions, calling them provocative and irresponsible, and urged the labor ministry to take a firm stand.
The union also supported the workers’ decision to strike indefinitely and set up protest tents outside the tannery.
A solidarity rally is expected to be held later this week at the tannery.
Source – El PaÃs
