CEPA president, Oscar Fortunato. (Photo: MAA)

Fisheries Chambers ratify unlikely negotiations with union

ARGENTINA
Friday, May 25, 2012, 01:30 (GMT + 9)

Entrepreneurs of the fishing industry in Mar del Plata summoned the media to explain the reasons why they have cut off negotiations with the Maritime Fishermen's Union (Simape).

Representatives of the Chamber of Shipowners, CEPA, Caipa, Cafrexport and of Fishing Employers, confirmed that there is no chance to negotiate beyond the wage agreement recently signed with the United Maritime Workers Union (SOMU), establishing a profitable 22 per cent increase divided in two installments.

Earlier this week Simape ratified an indefinite strike in the port of Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires), after rejecting the wage increase as it was deemed insufficient.

The strike was announced after the union refused to sign the same agreement as SOMU.

"The only alternative is that Simape signs the same agreement as SOMU. This was determined by the Ministry of Labour of the Nation due to a judicial action," said the president of ship owners, Darío Sócrate, according to Pescare.

CEPA president, Oscar Fortunato assured that some companies from the sector will no longer be able to return to work "with the same employment levels as they did before the conflict." He warned if the strike continues, "many of them will not be able to continue" because they will not have the means to cover the fuel for their boats, Revista Puerto reported.

The entrepreneurs insisted that the cessation of the sector "is not helpful to anyone." The consequences of the repeated conflicts affecting the sector are being felt at the docks, at processing plants and also in other steps of the production chain and the payment chain.

Related article:

- Fishermen reject wage rise proposal, ratify strike

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