The strike that had paralyzed Argentina’s main export ports was lifted following the intervention of the Labor Secretariat, part of the Ministry of Human Capital. The agency summoned the conflicting parties with the aim of ensuring social peace and enforcing the mandatory conciliation previously ordered.

The strike, driven by the Federation of Workers of the Oilseed Industrial Complex, Cotton Ginners, and Related Industries of the Argentine Republic (FTCIODyARA) and the San Lorenzo Department Oil Workers and Employees Union (SOEA), disrupted the operations of industrial complexes in the region. The decision to end the strike came after the Ministry called the parties to a meeting scheduled for Monday, March 17, at 2:00 p.m. at the Labor Secretariat’s headquarters.

The Argentine Oil Industry Chamber (Ciara) welcomed the unions’ decision to lift the strike. “We urge that they quickly return to the negotiating table and avoid resorting again to illegal actions that harm oil workers,” the business entity stated.

Origin of the Conflict
The labor dispute originated at Explora S.A. (Bio diesel plant), a company located in Puerto San Martín, Santa Fe province. The crisis began when workers at the plant staged a work stoppage due to the non-payment of the 2024 annual bonus. In response, the company fired four employees, escalating tensions with the unions.

The situation worsened on Wednesday night when a group of workers protested, demanding the reinstatement of the dismissed employees. During the demonstration, the Argentine Naval Prefecture intervened, which, according to the unions, led to repressive actions against the protesters. This prompted the FTCIODyARA and SOEA San Lorenzo to declare a national strike in the sector.

The unions accused Explora S.A. of failing to comply with the mandatory conciliation ordered by the Labor Secretariat, further aggravating the conflict. They also emphasized that the dispute was not only about the dismissals but also involved wage negotiations and the company’s failure to honor prior agreements in the sector.

Intervention and Sector Reactions
Amid the escalating conflict, the Labor Secretariat stepped in, urging the unions to maintain social peace and resume communication with the company. By calling for a mediation meeting, the Ministry of Human Capital reaffirmed its commitment to defending labor rights and promoting dialogue as a means of conflict resolution.

Both Ciara and the Grain Exporters Association (CEC) had previously expressed their opposition to the strike, arguing that the conflict at Explora S.A. did not affect the oil industry as a whole and that the strike was harming the country’s export activity.

With mandatory conciliation in effect and the meeting scheduled for Monday, March 17, hopes are pinned on reaching an agreement to resolve the dispute. The unions are insisting on the reinstatement of the fired workers and compliance with wage commitments, while the company has yet to issue a public statement regarding its position in the negotiations.

The outcome of the meeting will be crucial in determining whether a definitive solution is achieved or if tensions persist in the sector. In the meantime, operations at the industrial complexes have resumed, though an atmosphere of uncertainty lingers over the future of the negotiations. The resolution of this conflict will have direct implications for foreign trade and the stability of the industrial sector.