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AmBev
With Manuel Cordova
AmBev Peru announces massive layoff of workers at its
Sullana factory
On January 16, at the first meeting of the bargaining
committee and 50 days after the list of demands for the 2009
collective bargaining agreement was presented, the
representatives of this subsidiary of the beer giant InBev
announced the massive layoff of 40 to 50 percent of the
workers on its payroll.
Sirel
spoke with Manuel Cordova, general secretary of the
Sole Federation of AmBev Peru Workers (SUTAMBEV), who
gave details of the mobilizations and protests that are
underway.
-What is the current situation at the Sullana factory?
-Last January 16, as we arrived at the first meeting to
discuss the list of demands for the year, the
representatives of the company told us –even before we sat
down– that they had bad news for the workers, as they had to
cut down personnel by 50 percent –which in numbers
represents approximately 120 workers–, and that the decision
was due to the factory’s financial situation and the
international crisis. They also offered us the option of a
collective resignation to save the factory, promising that
the workers that remained would be given a participation in
the earnings.
-What measures did you take after this announcement?
-At first it was a shock, because we really weren’t
expecting it. So we asked for some time and to reconvene for
a new meeting this Friday the 23rd. It should be
noted that the company was reluctant to enter into
negotiations, and we were only able to arrange this next
meeting after much insistence from us. We immediately went
public with this situation that has put Sullana factory
workers in a very tight spot. We also reported it to the
Labor Ministry, which can’t take any actions yet, as the
company has not informed it of the layoffs. We’ve reported
what happened to the General Workers’ Federation of Peru (CGTP),
PLADES , and the IUF, requesting their
support.
-What is SUTAMBEV’s position?
-Our position is to PREVENT the collective layoff,
and for now we’re waiting to see what happens in Friday’s
meeting, as we know that the manager, Víctor Fernández,
was expected to arrive yesterday (January 20) in Brazil
to meet with AmBev officers.
-Why do you think the layoffs were announced in the Sullana
plant only, and not in Lima or Huachipa as well?
-Although the company claims that the layoffs –if confirmed–
are due to the current economic situation, I personally
think that the real reason is the union, which has always
been a rock in the company’s shoe.
AmBev
is using the world financial crisis and SUTAMBEV’s
list of demands as an excuse to dissolve the union, or at
least break it by getting rid of the main union leaders.
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