The Syndicate That Drained a Dairy Farm: Production on the Line, Justice on its Tail

Lácteos Vidal, a dairy company based in Moctezuma, Argentina, recently found itself at the center of a formidable clash with the Association of Dairy Industry Workers of the Argentine Republic (Atilra). On July 18, 2022, the company's operations were disrupted by a blockade, igniting tensions that are far fr om resolved.

The confrontation began when workers encountered union representatives blocking the factory doors, which recalled a similar event from 2014. The blockade affected both their Moctezuma facility and their plant in the Devoto neighborhood, wh ere they finalize mozzarella production and distribute their products.

The union demanded employee re-categorization, leading to the layoff of 26 employees and the suspension of three delegates. While 18 of these former employees reached a settlement, 8 holdouts remain unsolved. Among the delegates, only one has departed while the others continue to receive wages despite not working.

The legal aftermath has been severe. Lácteos Vidal's leader, Alejandra Bada Vázquez, is battling court cases and a recent 62 million peso embargo. Her declarations echo frustration with "the mafia" that she claims is suffocating the business. "They are literally bankrupting us," she insists.

The company's technical director, Arturo Díaz, recounts the difficulties of operating at limited capacity amid the turmoil. The crisis has exposed the vulnerabilities of small enterprises when pitched against large unions.

As the legal process drags on, with appeals even reaching the Supreme Court, Bada Vázquez calls for urgent labor reform, highlighting the challenges of continuous production businesses like Lácteos Vidal. Despite the hardships, she maintains a glimmer of hope for a fair resolution.