Potential strikes by rural Argentine farmworkers that had threatened to disrupt the pear harvest were averted last week after union bosses reached a pay deal with the Chamber of Integrated Fruit Growers (CAFI), website Rionegro.com.ar reported. 

The Argentine Union of Rural Workers and Longshoremen (UATRE) agreed to a pay increase of 35% in the late hours of Thursday night, having initially demanded 45%.

CAFI had originally offered an increase of 22%.

UATRE had threatened strike action if a deal could not be made by the end of Wednesday, but the talks were extended for another day.

Rionegro.com.ar said this development meant the pear harvest in the south of the country could go ahead as planned.

However, another union called the Fruit Syndicate representing certain fruit packers is also negotiating CAFI over a pay increase, and at the time of writing no agreement is reported to have been made.

The Fruit Syndicate reportedly congratulated UATRE on the outcome of its negotiations, but said they would accept an increase of no less than 40%, the story said.

Last week the union blocked certain roads in southern Argentina used by pear exporters to reach customs, and said they would continue until their pay demands were met.

It is unclear what effect the blockades are having on the pear industry.

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