The dynamics of the negotiation promises to expose it as the first effective in 2021 that skips the logic of equalizing inflation -the most usual maximum hypothesis in the round of joint ventures in recent years- to propose an effective improvement in the purchasing power of the salary of the operators. This premise fits in with the last speech by Cristina de Kirchner when she highlighted the need for salaries and pensions to be imposed on inflation and rates next year.
The hearing on the labor portfolio lasted until late last night and was attended by authorities from the main industrial chamber of agro-export activity, Ciara, together with those of the entities of biofuel producers (Carbio) and Vegetable Oils of Córdoba (Ciavec). The dispute, according to the companies, had caused losses of 100 million dollars per day (mainly due to fines for export shipments not made) and the stoppage of more than a hundred ships and thousands of trucks loaded with granary and milling products.
The extension of the arm wrestling had also caused concern in the Government: the brake on exports had as a correlation the absence of foreign exchange income from these operations. This dimension involved the Minister of Production, Matías Kulfas and Santiago Cafiero and Cecilia Todesca from the Chief of Cabinet, in addition to Moroni, in the negotiations. All of them were warned by the unions of an alleged intention of the exporting companies to press for a devaluation and possible advantages in the withholding policy that, always according to the union organizations, would explain the employers’ toughness in the discussions.
The Ciara led the negotiation with Gustavo Idígoras as the main reference, the same who presides over the Argentine Agroindustrial Council, an entity in which the Government relies as an alternative to the Agricultural Liaison Table. This condition allowed the Ciara an arrival of privilege to the officials during all the negotiations. The companies stated that all their offers were based on the maintenance of the purchasing power of the workers.
Until the last minute there was agreement on the following points: a 10% salary increase due to the revision of the parity that in April had agreed to 25%, in such a way as to close this year with 35 percent; as of January another 25% increase for the 2021 negotiation with a review next August; an end-of-year bonus of 70 thousand pesos and another of 90 thousand pesos in compensation for workers who had carried out tasks during the pandemic.