The tug-of-war between Fate and SUTNA escalated on Thursday. The union led by Alejandro Crespo denounced that the company brought trucks and outside personnel into the facility amid the wait for two key decisions: the hearing next Tuesday at the Buenos Aires Ministry of Labor and the ruling of Chamber II of the National Labor Appeals Court. For the union, it is no coincidence: they seek to alter the scenario before the Justice Department or the labor ministry rules.
“Today the provocations began. They entered with trucks when we have a hearing on Tuesday and we are on the verge of a court ruling,” Crespo fired. According to the leader, the maneuver would aim to create a fait accompli that tips the balance in favor of the company, which insists on evicting the plant. “They brought in trucks and brought people to put inside the factory. They quickly removed them after the call to Pablo Moyano,” he added, referring to the co-head of the CGT.
The conflict has been ongoing for a long time. SUTNA maintains that Fate is carrying out an illegal lockout, with the plant closed and workers outside, while the company insists the measure is legal and that it needs to restructure. In the middle, there are layoffs that the union calls fraudulent because a precautionary measure prohibits them. “There are two cases. There is the one from Court 17, where the layoffs are illegal because there was a ruling not to fire, and then we went to the Appeals Court, which also ruled in our favor on the precautionary measure,” Crespo explained.
The precautionary measure, according to the union, would not only prevent layoffs but also require the company to reopen the plant and pay wages. “The precautionary measure establishes not only paying wages and not making layoffs, but also the reopening of the plant,” he stated. However, Fate did not comply and the conflict escalated to the courts. Now, the union awaits Chamber II of the National Labor Appeals Court to rule on the precautionary measures and for the Buenos Aires Ministry of Labor to unblock negotiations.
Meanwhile, tension shows no respite. SUTNA called on all labor organizations to gather at the plant gate and remain on alert. “We call on all labor organizations to be present at the plant gate and be on alert,” read the union statement. The call aims to broaden support and pressure the Justice Department and the provincial government to intervene.
The conflict at Fate reflects the crisis facing Argentine manufacturing, with drops in production and increases in suspensions and layoffs. In this context, the tug-of-war between the union and the company has become a test case. Tuesday’s hearing and the Chamber’s ruling will be decisive for the future of the plant’s more than 1,500 workers.
para mi estos zurditos del sutna ya estan hinchando las bolas siempre victimizandose la empresa hace bien en meter camiones si no quieren laburar que se vayan a cuba viva la libertad carajo firmado el pelon 88
Para mí esto huele a que los patrones de mierda de Fate meten camiones y faloperos para romper la lucha obrera. Se les acaba el cuento, la clase trabajadora se moviliza y los va a poner en su lugar. ¡A la calle contra la patronal y el ajuste! Firme, Gonzalo.