Redacción Uruguay suffers international embarrassment and loses millions due to the fishing unions
The unionists are putting a spoke in the wheel and expressing their anti-work and anti-investment ideology
Uruguay, a country supposedly known for its "stability" and its strategic role as a base for the Galician fishing fleet in the South Atlantic, is on the verge of a collapse in its fishing industry. What began as a labor dispute led by the Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Mar y Afines (SUTMA) has turned into a crisis that threatens thousands of jobs, halts foreign investment, and puts Uruguay's reputation as a reliable business destination in check. You may also be interested in... A union demand that paralyzes an industry The conflict erupted when SUTMA, a union with Marxist-Guevarist ideology, demanded the incorporation of a second captain per fresh fish vessel, a measure not included in the collective agreement in force until 2027. What could have been a labor negotiation turned into a strike of catastrophic proportions, spreading to freezer vessels and industrial plants that have nothing to do with the original demand. Companies such as Belnova, Uruguay's main fish exporter, are paying a devastating price. With more than 200 direct employees and an investment of 47 million euros in recent years, the company reports daily losses of 300,000 euros. Employers and the government: between inaction and threats The Cámara Industrial Pesquera Uruguaya (CIPU) has not held back on criticism. According to the employers, the strike has been accompanied by threats and riots that have created an atmosphere of operational insecurity.
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