The meeting between Fate and Sutna ended without an agreement, leaving over 900 jobs at risk as the plant remains shut down under mandatory conciliation.
The ongoing dispute regarding the closure of the historic Fate plant in Virreyes experienced another setback as the government-called virtual meeting concluded without any agreements. The meeting, which focused on negotiations between Fate and the Single Union of Argentine Tire Workers (Sutna), has left over 900 workers in limbo as the plant continues to remain paralyzed. Representatives from both sides, including Fate’s labor relations chief Santiago Ferri and Sutna's general secretary Alejandro Crespo, participated in the lengthy discussion.
The failure to reach any form of compromise during the nearly five-hour meeting underscores the deepening conflict surrounding the Fate plant, which has significant historical importance in the region. The Ministry of Labor was represented by Mara Mentoro, who expressed concern over the lack of progress. The current situation has raised alarm not only for the workers directly affected but also among various stakeholders in the community who fear the potential economic fallout from job losses in such a pivotal industrial facility.
Looking ahead, the parties have scheduled a follow-up meeting on March 4, providing a critical opportunity to revisit the negotiations. However, the continued paralysis of the plant amid mandatory conciliation emphasizes the urgency for a resolution that will protect the livelihoods of the workers and the operational future of a key employer in the area. The outcome of these negotiations will likely have wider implications for labor relations in Argentina’s manufacturing sector.
