On Mar. 31, Argentine dockworkers ended a 10-day strike
after winning concessions from Cargill Inc. and Bunge Ltd. As a result of
inflation in Argentina, workers’ real wages have decreased dramatically. The
exporting companies, both based in the United States, have profited lucratively
off of free-trade agreements. Cargill declared $116,579 million in revenue in
2009.
The recent victory illustrates the power workers have over
multinational corporations. Dockworkers began striking Mar. 22, as 5,000 trucks
were ready to unload grain at the port in Rosario, Santa Fe province.
In a show of worker solidarity, the Truckers’ Union supported the strike.
Workers walked off the job and erected roadblocks along
eight terminals. It is estimated that shipments of between 100,000 and 200,000
tons of grain, soy, and soy derivatives were immobilized each day of the
strike.
The agreement reached includes increased fees paid to the port
workers’ cooperative for carting grain as well as a 27 percent pay increase.
