Workers’ unions losing ground, seek spiritual help

Kate Casey

Never has Chile’s salmon industry received such sustained resistance from workers’ unions in the negotiations with their employers. The salmon company Aguas Claras, an affiliate of Empresas AquaChile, declared a lockout of its processing plant near Puerto Montt on February 11 following days of violent protest from union workers and union supporters. Since the processing plant is the primary source of employment for the local community, keeping the plant closed for nearly a month is similar to placing a food and basic necessity sanction on families that depend on the plant for an income. It was not surprising then to hear of numerous worker union members who backed down last week and chose to accept the company’s offer in order to get back to work. Union leader Benjamín Teneb however, the union leader most disliked by the company due to violent actions is not giving up the fight to get a better deal out of the company. Since company leaders refuse to speak with him, Teneb has sought mediation support from a bishop. Teneb states in La Tercera, “Bishop Alejandro Goic has said that he will speak with the company leaders and find the right formula for a peaceful reencounter between both sides so that we may sit down again and negotiate.” Worker protestors had petitioned for mediation help from the regional bishop Cristián Caro of Puerto Montt days following the lockout, but Caro decided to keep himself out of the problem and commented, “It does not correspond to the Church to assume the function of a guarantor.” The bishop Alejandro Goic however of Chile’s Central Region has agreed to assist the workers’ union leader in reaching a peaceful dialogue with the company.