Cargill resumes operation at two crushing plants in Argentina

Agribusiness major Cargill has resumed operations at two of its grain crushing plants in Argentina after suspending operations on April 5 as oilseed crushing workers undertook a series of strike actions.

Cargill said that the unplanned strike actions meant it had been unable to guarantee safe conditions and confirmed that, if workers continued to strike, normal operations would again be halted.

Sergio Diaz, representative of the SOEAR oilseed crushers union, told Agricensus that workers would likely continue with strike actions in the coming days as they protested the dismissal of colleagues at the plants.

“We are not planning strike actions today, but we will continue with this protest to demand the reincorporation of the dismissed workers,” he said.

According to maritime agency Nabsa, a total of eight vessels are scheduled to load wheat, corn and soybean from Cargill’s port in Bahia Blanca within the next two weeks.

Last month, Cargill ratified the dismissals of a group of workers after the expiration of a mandatory conciliation period order by the national Labour Ministry as it restructure operations in Rosario and Bahia Blanca.

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