|
More than a week after the 120 workers of the Soprole (FONTERRA)
subsidiary Prolesur in the province of Osorno launched a
strike, the plant’s activities are still paralyzed and a
hunger strike may soon be called if a solution to the
conflict is not found soon.
On Tuesday, June 14, management proposed a 5.02 percent
raise in wages and increases in vacation bonuses and
certain other benefits.
This offer was rejected by the workers at
Prolesur-Osorno,
as only a month and a half ago
Soprole-Fonterra signed an agreement with Los Lagos
workers granting them a 7 percent raise and double the
benefits it offers at the Osorno plant.
According to Aldo Lezana, president of the
Chilean Federation of Dairy Company Workers’ Unions (FENATRAL),
who is in Osorno supporting the striking workers, “Prolesur’s
attitude is insulting. This is clearly a case of
flagrant wage and benefit discrimination within the same
company, and that goes against every ILO agreement
signed by Chile.”
The plant’s workers, who continue with mobilizations and
ongoing discussions, are firm in their objective of
obtaining a wage adjustment that matches the tasks they
perform, and they’re asking
Fonterra
–the parent company– to step in and revise this
situation.
“We don’t know what this work stoppage at the plant is
costing
Fonterra.
The workers are committed, and they waited three years
to present their list of demands, which correspond to
Prolesur’s
situation,” Lezana said.
“If a solution is not found soon, the workers will
resort to a hunger strike.”
 |
