The union of National Beer Factories (FNC) The strike began this Friday after the closure of the plant in Mines, in moments where there is a tripartite negotiation with the company and the Ministry of Labor of Social Security (MTSS).
The strike will be subject to the progress of the negotiation tables, with the possibility that it will be lifted if there is some type of agreement on the 150 jobs at stake, as anticipated. Fernando Ferreira, leader of the Federation of Beverage Workers and Employees (FOEB).
At a press conference, Ferreira described the last meeting with the company and the MTSS leaders as “positive”, although he clarified: “None of these actors, both company and union, leave aside their measures.”
When ratifying the forceful measures, he clarified that “they will be conditioned to be continually reviewed” and detailed: “If the progress satisfies the company and the union, the measures will be lifted according to how things are going. negotiating tables”.
The government analyzes the return of a subsidy
The government is analyzing reestablishing the refund of the Imesi due to the use of returnable containers, a measure that was in force until 2021. Although it would currently come with modifications, it could improve the conditions of competitiveness from FNC.
In fact, the minister Mario Arizti This Thursday, the good negotiating climate was highlighted, and the willingness of both parties to review their initial positions. The leader had anticipated that there is “a month and 15 days to try to move forward” and was optimistic: “If we move forward, we reach agreements, a capable closure will not occur.”
On the labor side, Arizti mentioned the unemployment insurance, a program of job reconversion and the flexibility in collective agreements as alternatives.
FNC alleged competitiveness problems
When announcing the closure of the plant, National Beer Factory referred to “problems of competitiveness” and focused on four factors, among them “the high production costs of Uruguay compared to other countries in the region.”
To that, the company added “the growing import of low-cost cans that reach values that are impossible to match with the current conditions in Uruguay for the national industry.”
Finally, FNC mentioned as a complication “the smaller scale of local production and low productivity”, but also “the tax pressure, which is especially distorting in returnable beers”, while pointing out a idle capacity of more than 50%, which makes the situation “unsustainable”.
Source: Ambito
