ATILRA requested an urgent audience with Entre Rios governor

April 3, 2012

The Association of Dairy Industry Workers of Argentina (ATILRA) requested an “urgent” meeting with Entre Ríos governor Sergio Urribarri, in order to discuss the “delicate situation” of employees from La Sibila SA and Cotapa Companies.

M24Digital got in touch with Hector Luis Ponce, Secretary General of the union, who said, “We need the mediation of the provincial government to straighten and fix the problems raised by these two companies which creates a grave disservice to the entire dairy industry in the province”.

Meanwhile, ATILRA head said “the government of the province has plenty of political will to control, inspect and sanction breaches of these dairies, exercising its police power.”

“La Sibila receives all the benefits that the industry provides, but refuses to comply with labor and tax obligations, hurting, in this manner, the rest of the dairy companies and therefore, all the workers we represent,” he continued.

Ponce noted that “this company has agreed benefits in terms of export quotas and has received from ONCCA non-refundable capital contributions the sum of $ 1,392,763.18, over 199 dairy farms in question”.

Meanwhile, in ATILRA it was reported that the company pays to its workers less wage than the activity and the labor agreement demans, causing serious economic issues and evading contributions and taxes”.

Regarding Cotapa, Workers Dairy Industry said that “despite the reorganization, the restructuring and state aid it receives, the failure persists over workers in the payment of wages while they are under continual threat of layoffs.”