https://socialistaction.org/2017/08/08/pepsico-workers-resist-in-argentina/
PepsiCo workers resist in Argentina
/ 3 days ago
Aug. 2017 Pepsi : lubertino
By ANN MONTAGUE
On June 20, 691 PepsiCo workers in Buenos Aires arrived at work to see a
piece of paper on the door notifying them that the plant was being
relocated and they were all out of a job. In Argentina it is illegal to
just close a factory and lay off workers. Companies have to show that
they have had financial problems for three years and prove what they
have done to protect the jobs of the workers affected.
The workers voted to take over the plant, blocked the entrance to the
factory, and demanded their jobs back.
PepsiCo is the second largest food and beverage company in the world.
Last year, PepsiCo saw a 26.3% growth in sales in Argentina with an
income of $4.8 billion. The company announced the relocation of its
snack production to a factory in Mar del Plata, a city 250 miles from
Buenos Aires. Only 155 workers were offered jobs at the new location.
The workers believe the real reason for the relocation is the strength
of the workers’ organization in Buenos Aires, both within and without
the factory at its present location.
In Argentina workers organizations are rooted in the workplace. Workers
in each workplace are elected to represent the workers in negotiations
with their bosses in each factory. Those elections determine the
direction of their organization. Different groups run for leadership
positions. Some are closer to management and some are closer to the workers.
La Lista Bordo is a left caucus that includes the PTS (Socialist Workers
Party) as well as independent workers in the factory. They have won
elections for the last several years and they believe the closure is a
direct violation of their organization.
A major solidarity campaign exists within and without Argentina.
Aug. 2017 Postal workers
Connecticut postal workers sign petition in solidarity with Argentine
PepsiCo workers.
They are receiving support from other factories, and also over 200
intellectuals and educators have joined the growing movement against
Pepsico #NoALosDespidosEnPepsico (No to the PepsiCo dismissals). In the
United States, workers have been signing petitions to PepsiCo and using
social media to give visibility to the struggle in Argentina.
On July 18, a demonstration of 30,000 people in support for the 691
workers taking on the U.S. multinational corporation took place in
Buenos Aires. Unions, student organizations from the University of
Buenos Aires, members of the feminist #NiUnaMenos, the political parties
of the Left Front and many others took part. Participants marched to the
front of the National Congress, where organizers have set up a large tent.
The demonstration protested the violent eviction of the workers from
their workplace five days earlier. The same day the court ruled that the
closure of the factory was illegal due to lack of paperwork justifying
an economic crisis for the factory and the incorrect filing of a Crisis
Prevention Procedure. The court ordered the workers reinstated.
The organizers are expecting PepsiCo to appeal; the protest continues.
The tent will serve as a center for organizing for the PepsiCo workers
and all workers who are victims of government austerity measures.
Top photo by Lubertino
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August 8, 2017 in Labor, Latin America.
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