Entre Ríos Government Orders Poultry Firm to Reinstate 269 Dismissed Workers

The industrial city of Concepción del Uruguay faces deepening crisis as poultry company Granja Tres Arroyos (GTA) dismissed 269 workers, a figure the union claims exceeds 400. Uncertainty has given way to anger among employees who received dismissal notices, escalating a months-long tension at the company's La China plant.

GTA justified the layoffs by invoking Article 247 of the Labor Contract Law, citing "extraordinary circumstances beyond its will" that impacted operations. This article allows for reduced severance pay, offering 50% of the standard compensation. The company stated these dismissals are part of restructuring efforts and ongoing negotiations with creditors to navigate its financial situation.

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The jurisprudence is clear regarding the scope of that article.

However, the Entre Ríos provincial government has intervened, issuing an order for mandatory conciliation and demanding the immediate reinstatement of all dismissed workers. The provincial Secretariat of Labor and Social Security also warned against any retaliatory actions against unionized personnel. A conciliation hearing is scheduled for August 20, 2026.

The Union of Food Industry Workers (STIA) disputes the company's justification, asserting that the dismissals stem from management decisions rather than force majeure. STIA's general secretary in Concepción del Uruguay, Julio Chamorro, argued that legal precedent clearly contradicts GTA's claims, particularly regarding the application of Article 247. He highlighted the dire social impact, noting that many workers were already receiving wages in installments and accumulating debt prior to the plant's partial closure.

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We are instructed to refrain from taking any reprisals of any kind against the personnel represented by the union entity, nor against any other person, in relation to the dispute raised here.