The closure of the TDI (toluene diisocyanate) production plant, belonging to the Petrochemical company Río Tercero, begins to cause layoffs and suspensions of personnel, as the firm had anticipated.
On Sunday night, the Petrochemical Chemical Industries Staff Union of Río Tercero promoted a protest measure in front of the entrance to the chemical center, which consisted of the total closure of Savio Avenue in that sector for a few hours.
The action is a direct union response to the first telegrams of dismissal and dismissal of personnel that, they claim, were sent by the company to the workers via email. In principle, about 120 separations are mentioned.
The lack of competitiveness in the face of the national government’s opening of TDI imports from Asian countries was the cause alleged by the Piero group firm to close the main production unit of the local factory, although it stressed that it will remain active. the rest of the plants.
In that direction, Mayor Marcos Ferrer expressed his concern about the conflict, and blamed the national economic policies of indiscriminate opening of foreign products.
He argued that the national industry cannot compete on equal terms with Asia, due to the great asymmetry of tax, labor, and energy costs.
In that sense, he assured that he will begin negotiations with the Nation to attempt some dialogue that could lead to concrete measures to protect the industry, although he admitted that it is a very difficult option to achieve.
Regarding the layoffs, Ferrer said that he fears a domino effect in the rest of the industries in the chemical sector, mainly in the Military Factory, since Petrochemical buys almost all of the nitric acid production from him as an input for the TDI, which it will no longer produce.
Thus, there are fears for the future of the almost 60 workers affected by the operation of the state company’s nitric plant.
This Monday, at 10, a presentation by the chemical union is scheduled before the Provincial Labor Secretariat, in order to request a mandatory conciliation that takes the conflict back to its origin, to open a stage of negotiation.
Meanwhile, at 6:30 p.m. a protest march is called through the streets of the city.
TDI is the main input for the manufacture of foam rubber for mattresses and pillows, as well as accessories for the automotive industry.