In
December of last year, the union presented a list of demands to the
company and to the Ministry of Labor, and negotiations for a new
Collective Bargaining Agreement began in January of this year. After
16 meetings without reaching an agreement, the parties entered the
conciliation stage. In this instance too, Nestlé’s management
continued in its refusal to show any true intention to negotiate,
exhibiting an intransigent position, in particular with respect to
wages and the term of the new agreement. Sirel spoke with
Alexander Caballero, general secretary of SUNTRANEP, who
commented on the steps of this drawn-out negotiation that now
appears to be heading towards a strike.
-What are the most conflictive issues in the bargaining?
-From the start there was no agreement on the issue of wage
increase. The union initially asked for a 13 percent increase with
respect to the average base salary, and this proposal had to be
changed over these past months of negotiations. At present, the
union is demanding a wage increase that is based only on the annual
inflation registered in 2007, which was approximately 4 percent, and
even so, the company refuses to sign. Moreover, as workers we insist
that the Agreement must have a term of validity of one year, due to
the ups and downs of the country’s economy, but the company won’t
budge from its position of a two-year term.
-Last Friday, the Ministry of Labor summoned the parties to a
meeting. What happened at that meeting?
-Nothing, because the company presented some justification for not
appearing; so we’re back to square one.
-What do you think of this attitude?
-I
think this is a huge offense. Nestlé is one of those
companies that are only out to destroy unions.
-What actions did you take afterwards?
-The day after this failed meeting (August 30), the union held an
Assembly. There the union’s bargaining committee gave us a
step-by-step account of the negotiation process. By a large majority
of votes, the Assembly resolved to declare a strike starting on
September 23.
