-What is going on with Polar SA?
-Last Monday 6, the company did not allow workers to go
into the plant because they had sent telegrams telegrams
of dismissal to 240 workers out of a total 800 workers
employed at the factory. News items were conflicting,
while some people had received a telegram, others
hadn't, so the decision was to go into the factory
anyway and remain there, and that is what we have been
doing.
-What was Polar's reaction faced with this action?
-Yesterday, Wednesday 8, there was a compulsory
conciliation hearing requested by the company. Both, the
trade union and FATAGA attended
the hearing. The company requested that the hearing be
adjourned and resumed in the afternoon, but then the
company representatives did not show up. This was very
surprising because the conciliation had been requested
by them.
-What was the union reaction?
-Our response has been not only to keep the Neuquen
plant paralyzed but also paralyzing the Trelew factory
and largest one, Bahía Blanca, all of them owned by the
same company, and also all the distribution centers
belonging to the Polar system.
-In your view, what is the reason for Polar to take such
a surprising decision?
-The company intentions are no clear yet, as we have not
had the chance for a dialogue. The company owners are
likely to be thinking of an extension of the Bahia
Blanca plant and turning the Neuquen factory into a
distribution center, but we don't know. Our immovable
position is not accepting any lay-off and demanding that
every job is maintained.
-What support does the union have to face this conflict?
-Nationally and regionally we have full solidarity of
the General Confederation of Labor (CGT)
-What is the total number of Polar workers?
-Polar group has two thousand workers.
-What are the future actions planned?
-Apart from the strikes at the Polar plants and
distributions centers, we have informed their Business
Chamber that we absolutely reject this behavior, and we
have also reported our rejection to the Coca Cola
Producers Associations, of which Polar is a
member. Our General Secretary, Raúl Álvarez, has
already warned them that in case a solution is not
reached soon, we are likely to paralyze all the Coca
Cola system in
Argentina.
For this, we also have the support of our brothers in
the distribution operations who drive the trucks
throughout the country.
Obviously, we would prefer not to reach this type of
industrial action, but we are alert to know the news
coming from the relevant ministries and based on such
news our actions will be decided.
