Tire manufacturer Fate workers protest outside labor secretariat

Tire industry workers’ union SUTNA held a march in front of the Labor Secretariat in Buenos Aires on Wednesday to protest against the potential shutdown of tire manufacturer Fate. It is also carrying out a 24-hour strike. Over 900 workers are expected to lose their jobs with the closure. The protest, which started at 10:30 a.m., took place as representatives of the Labor Secretariat, Fate and the union met to decide the future of the company and its workers. After the meeting, the Ministry of Human Capital, of which the secretariat is a part, issued a statement saying that “no definitive agreements were reached.” It also reported that the mandatory conciliation period “has been extended until March 11th.” Outside the labor secretariat, police carried out a security operation to dismantle the protest and clear the streets, using pepper spray and hydrant trucks as part of the government’s anti-protest protocol, which establishes a ban on roadblocks. “They are cracking down [on protesters] on a pedestrian area,” left-wing deputy Myriam Bregman, who was taking part in the protest, told news station C5N. According to Polo Obrero leader Eduardo Belliboni, the Buenos Aires City government had allowed them to protest in that area, as long as they didn’t block the bus lane. “They surrounded us so they could then beat us up. We left the bus lane clear” he denounced. According to the statement by the Ministry of Human Capital the protest “resulted in clashes and confrontations between some demonstrators and security forces, leading to a police operation and resulting in one officer being injured.” Fate’s closure and the layoff of all its employees was announced 15 days ago by the company, but the decision was put on standby after the labor secretariat declared a “mandatory conciliation period,” which means that any decision is suspended and the parties must negotiate to solve the situation. The conciliation period ended on Wednesday. The labor secretariat has the power to extend it for five more days.  The union is demanding that the tire factory reopens and that worker’s jobs are protected via options such as putting the company up for sale or even having the Argentine state taking charge. SUTNA called to march to the labor secretariat, saying that “businesspeople cannot evade their responsibilities.” The union had the support of other unions, including the General Confederation of Labor (CGT, by its Spanish initials) and the two branches of the Argentine Workers’ Central (CTA de los Trabajadores and CTA Autónoma). “Defending Argentine labor is defending our families,” they said. “Fate will not shut down!” Tire sector on strike A 24-hour strike began on Wednesday at 6 a.m. at Pirelli and Bridgestone, the other two big tire factories operating in Argentina. SUTNA also filed a complaint before the judiciary saying that Fate violated an agreement signed last year that stated that the company would be exempted from paying contributions in exchange for not carrying out layoffs until July 2026. They called the firm’s decision to close “a scam.” “We must take into account that Fate did not declare bankruptcy nor start insolvency proceedings, they said they just made a commercial decision,” the union mentioned in their complaint, suggesting the closure is not a result of financial issues. The union also suggested the state could temporarily take a hold of the company in order to guarantee it continues operating. They said that Fate is the only manufacturer producing tires for trucks and buses, and that shutting down the company could lead to a supply crisis. A tense relationship During a speech to kickstart the legislative year in Congress on March 1, Milei harshly criticized the owner of Fate, Javier Madanes Quintanilla, who also heads aluminium manufacturing company Aluar, as well as Paolo Rocca, leader of steel company Techint. Calling them mocking nicknames — without actually naming them — Milei accused them of selling their products at high costs, and rejected their criticism against the opening of imports. He also said Fate was using the layoff of 920 employees as an “extortion” to force the government to approve antidumping measures that limit foreign imports, especially from China. “Do they think it’s okay to pay three or four times more for tires in exchange for the extortion of throwing 920 workers out on the street while protections for aluminum are being negotiated?” the president said. Following the speech, the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) and the Argentine Business Association (AEA) issued statements calling for respect for business leaders.  UIA said respect for those who “produce, invest and create jobs in the country” is “a basic need for development.” While AEA noted that “to move forward towards a sustained development, it is indispensable to promote a constructive and respectful dialogue between the government and the private sector.”