Cargill halts operations in two plants until 10 April due to strikes

Agribusiness major Cargill said it will halt operations at two of its grain crushing facilities in Argentina until at least April 10 due to multiple strikes actions being carried out by oilseed crushing workers protesting dismissals.

The firm said that these multiple and unplanned strike actions have made it unable to guarantee safe conditions at the crushing plants in Villa Gobernador Galvez, near Rosario, in Santa Fe province and in Bahia Blanca, in Buenos Aires province.

Cargill also said that workers would be suspended and not be paid through that date.

Last month, Cargill ratified the dismissals of a group of workers once a mandatory conciliation ordered by the national Labour Ministry had expired.

The firm said the dismissal of workers was part of its plan to restructure operations in Rosario and Bahia Blanca.

Sergio Diaz, representative of the SOEAR oilseed crushers union, recently told Agricensus that workers sudden strikes had been affecting grain loadings, biodiesel production and oilseed production.

Oilseed crushing workers may also launch new strikes at a national level later this month once a mandatory conciliation issued by the country’s Labour ministry expires.

Workers are currently demanding a salary hike of 27% and the companies are offering a 15% salary.