Argentinean Labour Dispute Ends

The intervention of government officials has brought a yearlong labour dispute between Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS) Argentina and its workers to an end. Federal labour minister, Carlos Tomada and Roberto Moululleron, Buenos Aires’, provincial labour minister reached a deal with SUTNA, the tyre worker’s union. As part of the deal BFS Argentina agreed to re-employ 12 dismissed workers and issue 20 months worth of severance payments to other employees. No figures have been released concerning the amount of money involved.

In October 2003, the union staged a weeklong strike amid contentious contract negotiations. The next month, workers said, the management dismissed 65 workers and rescinded the contracts of eight more employees. Production was reduced from seven days to six. The company said the labour unrest stopped a planned $50 million investment, and the suspended expansion plan created excess staff and resulted in the dismissals. In January, shortly after the national labour minister intervened in the conflict, company officials added that 22 of the 65 workers had already accepted severance payments.

BFS Argentina is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc, which is in turn a subsidiary of Japan-based Bridgestone Corp.