Photo credit: Giorgio Trucchi
After almost eight years of collective bargaining between the IUF affiliate Beverage and Allied Workers’ Union (Stibys) and La Reyna Bottler (CBC – PepsiCo), there is still no light at the end of the tunnel. Since negotiations entered the conciliation phase, significant progress has been made; however, PepsiCo remains firm on the outsourcing of permanent jobs in the sales sector.
- The Conciliation Board, by a majority vote, made a proposal to resolve this dispute by suggesting that PepsiCo offer permanent staff selling products on company routes the same price offered to supermarkets and third parties; the company continues to ignore this proposal
- Significant progress was made on the two remaining clauses including converting more than 100 subcontracted positions to permanent and indefinite contracts once the collective agreement is signed
- Outstanding issues also include retroactive payments of the increase in minimum wage that workers have not received for almost 12 years as well as the recognition of professional categories and related salaries for workers in the water treatment quality control department; furthermore, despite the absence of a pay rise over eight years, the company is still refusing a retroactive wage increase and is proposing only a single compensation bonus
Stibys President Fernando Espinales stated, “Our employees recognize that this dispute is about their job stability, the stability of their families and the survival of the Union. In the absence of progress, the employment relationship with this multinational will become extremely precarious, and we will have to adopt all the mechanisms enshrined in labour legislation to resolve this dispute.”
