Fruit exports have suffered millions in losses due to the strike of the technicians of the Senasa who sample the fruits for export.
A few weeks ago, the health agency laid off 213 employees throughout the territory, ten of which worked at the regional North Patagonia. Once the news came out, the guild took forceful measures in key export sectors throughout the national territory. The certification of fruit to those destinations with whom Argentina has a sanitary agreement was one of the areas that went on strike. Fruit shipments to Brazil and the United States, two important markets for the entire Rio Negro and Neuquen Valley have been seriously affected by this strike.
Yesterday, a trade union assembly decided not to accept any type of agreement if the ten people dismissed were not reinstated. Therefore, the strike continued.
The authorities of Senasa and ATE will meet in Buenos Aires to try to unblock this situation. Many people say that, far from fixing the conflict, things might get worse.
According to data provided by the companies, "there are only three weeks left to ship pears to the United States, and every day that passes the sector loses millions because it can't comply with its commitments with importers." According to the industry, they have lost more than 13 million dollars.
The public and private sector made a proposal regarding the 10 dismissals in the North Patagonia region: they suggest relocating them to provincial and mixed agencies (Funbapa) and even reinstating some in Senasa. However, that possibility was discarded at the union meeting.
Many companies already anticipate a cut in personnel in their packing sheds in the face of the impossibility of exporting. Much of the fruit that was available to be placed in United States would relocate in other destinations in which they will possibly achieve lower values. The fruit that was allocated for Brazil will be relocated in the internal market.
Source: rionegro.com.ar