FATE workers march in Buenos Aires to demand factory reopening

Workers from the tire manufacturer FATE marched to Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires to demand the reopening of their plant, a conflict that has persisted for six months.

Alejandro Crespo, general secretary of the Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Neumático Argentino (SUTNA), stated that employees have become “hostages of a dispute between powerful people.” Crespo criticized President Javier Milei, questioning why workers should suffer factory closures while the President claims certain businessmen use extortionary policies against governments.

Labor representatives also expressed frustration with the judicial system and provincial authorities. Worker Sebastián Tesoro noted that while a recent court ruling forced the company to pay unpaid wages, the judiciary rejected the possibility of reopening the plant. Additionally, workers reported receiving no response to proposals for temporary occupation submitted to Governor Axel Kicillof.