The Textile Workers' Association (AOT) has declared a state of alert and mobilization across the country following the deadlock in salary negotiations with the Argentine Federation of Textile Industries (FITA), which it blames for the failure.
The Textile Workers' Association (AOT) has declared a state of alert and mobilization nationwide after salary negotiations with the sector's employers, the Argentine Federation of Textile Industries (FITA), stalled. The union directly blames employers for the lack of progress in the bargaining discussions and for their refusal to guarantee the continuity of the collective agreement.
The decision was made by the National Executive Council of the AOT following a National Plenary of General Secretaries from all the country's delegations. The union denounces that the employers' proposals have been "meagre" and "almost insulting," and that FITA has failed to negotiate in good faith, according to the official statement.
Negotiations stalled since June
The last salary agreement expired on 30 June and, since then, no new agreement has been reached. The AOT maintains that the official call from the Ministry of Labour did not find a constructive attitude from the employers' sector, which has caused direct harm to textile workers, who have gone months without a salary update.
The union also warns about job precariousness and the threats of flexibilization that, they claim, are being promoted by various business sectors. They believe that the current regulatory framework exclusively benefits employers and undermines historically acquired labour and union rights.
Warning of mobilizations and strike actions
The AOT has announced that its Executive Council will adopt "without further delay the legitimate measures of union action it deems appropriate to safeguard the rights and interests at stake." Although specific actions have not yet been outlined, the union warns that the responsibility for the consequences will fall on FITA.
The current economic context, marked by high inflation and loss of purchasing power, has hardened union stances. The AOT links this scenario to a regression to the labour policies of the 1990s, which, they warn, led to the loss of thousands of jobs and accelerated the deindustrialization of the country.
For workers in the textile sector, this situation represents salary and job uncertainty. The lack of an agreement means there have been no increases since June, which in an inflationary context translates to a real loss of income. The union urges members to stay alert for upcoming assemblies and mobilizations that will be called.
The next step will be the call for new meetings with mediation from the Ministry of Labour, although the AOT has already indicated that it will not accept proposals that do not recover the lost purchasing power. Meanwhile, the state of alert and mobilization will remain in effect until further notice.
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