As the Federation of Tobacco Workers of Argentina gets ready to discuss wages, its leader, Juan Martini, in conversation with SIREL reports that “The transnational corporation Philip Morris has been meddling in the Federation’s affairs for some time now. This is aggravated by the fact that the company is not honoring the Collective Bargaining Agreement, that it’s ignoring seniority, and that there are signs of increasing abuse. We don’t understand this situation -Martini continues- and we find it alarming. If Philip Morris thinks it can turn the union into an instrument at the service of the company, it’s making a big mistake. We’re here to defend our fellow workers, to enforce their rights, and to get management to treat them with respect.”

 

Philip Morris is one of the largest tobacco companies in the world and it owns several of the most widely sold cigarette brands. It has more than 50 factories and its cigarettes are sold in over 160 markets.

 

Massalin Particulares, the Argentinean subsidiary of the US tobacco company that produces the Marlboro brand, ranks first in sales and produces 65 percent of the cigarettes consumed in that country.

 

Juan Martini informed that as no progress is being made in the talks with the company, the Federation has had to appeal to the Ministry of Labor in several opportunities, and this bothers the transnational corporation. “We’re not talkers, and we’d rather find solutions without having to resort to any kind of measures, but Philip Morris’ attitude is forcing us into a conflict that the Federation does not want,” the union leader concluded.

 

From Argentina, Gerardo Iglesias © Rel-UITA December 6, 2006