Arrebeef reopens, the refrigerator that had closed 40 days ago due to a union conflict

Mauricio Bártoli

04/02/2021 4:46 PM

• Clarín.com

• Rural

Updated 04/02/2021 19:04

Next Tuesday, Arrebeef, the

1,000-employee and 100-year-old

refrigerator

, which closed its operations on February 26,

will return to work

in Pérez Millán, northern Buenos Aires, in the midst of a union conflict.

After 40 days,

the tension dropped

and the conversations between the head of the company,

Hugo Borrell

, with the Secretary General of the Meat Federation,

Alberto Fantini

, were rebuilding a horizon of continuity, to resume activity and sustain employment for most workers.

In 26,000 covered square meters, Arrebeef has a slaughter capacity of 30,0000 animals per month and is

one of the main meat exporters in the country

.

Founded in 1921, by Jaime Borrell, the refrigerator emerged as a family business almost 100 years ago, and was managed through the generations.

Today the aforementioned Borrell is the president, Hugo Alberto Borrell (son) is the general director;

Ángeles Borrell is CFO and Alejandro Borrell is serving as Production Director.

The difficulties for the company began last September, when

union elections

were

suspended

due to the quarantine

and a group of workers accused the zonal delegate of the Meat Union, Luis Pérez, of not defending their wages.

The situation was complicated in the summer, because

in December and January the number of farms decreased and less work was done

.

Then, when the workers received the February salary, which reflected an average 30% reduction in work in their pockets, the protests intensified.

In this context,

on February 23 a strike began

that escalated to become a conflict of national dimension, after Borell announced the closure of the company and the dismissal of all workers,

"tired of union pressure

,

"

according to he said through a megaphone at the door of the establishment.

The president of Arrebeef, Hugo Borrel, speaks with a megaphone in front of the workers.

After that, especially during the following days,

the workers took over the plant, made an escrache at the union headquarters and there were incidents with the police

.

The president of the consortium of Argentine Meat Exporters (ABC),

Mario Ravettino

, asked the national government to intervene as quickly as possible to save the production in process.

But labor negotiations stalled.

On behalf of Arrebeef, which is part of the ABC consortium, Ravettino met with Fantini, and with representatives of the Ministry of Labor, in the

search for a solution

that normalizes operations and guarantees the continuity of jobs.

New perspective

From the company they

assure that they fulfilled all the salary commitments

, despite the 40 days that it was paralyzed and they express the expectation that they will be able to resume the activity.

They emphasize that "although no work was done, last Wednesday we paid half of the last fortnight and on April 9 we will complete it."

No dismissal telegrams were sent

and negotiations continue within the framework of the mandatory conciliation, with

Fantini's commitment that “free and transparent elections will be held in the local union delegation

, and if the opposition list to Pérez triumphs, the union will lead in Pérez Millán ”, a town with 4,000 residents, in which Arrebeef's activity marks the socioeconomic pulse.

This is an opportune moment to get the negotiations back on track.

Every year,

in the first half of April, the joint

ventures

are opened

, and from Arrebeef they assure that this time they will adapt to "what is agreed, as we have always done".

However, there is

a key point to be resolved: the continuity of the 65 employees who spearheaded the takeover of the refrigerator

.

The owners do not want them to continue working, but from the Meat Federation they hope to find a solution and that they can keep their jobs.

In this sense, the expectation is based on the

good level of dialogue

that has been maintained between the leaders of the company, the union federation and the ministries of Labor (national and provincial).

After some tasks as a test that were carried out in recent days, the company verified that "people have complied" and trust the

conciliatory messages

they have received, with the commitment that the conflict will dissipate.

They assure that they are willing to

"open a dialogue to move forward

.

"

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