A pay dispute between Argentina’s fruit workers and fruit growers could lead to work stoppages in the western part of the country if the impasse is not resolved soon, according to local media reports.

The packers union is considering a strike at fruit packing houses in the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén, according to news website Rocadigital. So far the union has said it will not block roads as it has in the past. The harvesters union also is meeting to devise protests in case their demands for higher wages are not met soon.

With several harvests under way, tensions are rising because workers have not received higher salaries, and there have been no talks between workers and growers, the website noticiasnet.com.ar said. Growers are meeting to plan ways to work around any action.

There is speculation that the national government may get involved to moderate negotiations, but so far there has been no movement on this front, noticiasnet.com.ar said.

Photo: www.inta.gov.ar

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com