Kraft: union leaders file injunctions to be allowed to return to Pacheco plant

Three members of the food workers union, who are not allowed to enter Kraft Food's plant in General Pacheco, have filed legal injunctions requesting they be allowed to return to work and continue with their tasks as representatives of the workers.

The US-based company has refused to let the workers enter the plant, in disregard of the orders of the Labour Ministry telling the company to reinstate the workers.

The lawyer of the unionists, Juan Pablo Fiorini, said the injunction "would have the same characteristics" of a previous law suit presented by union leader Ramón Bogado, who entered the plant today after a court ruled in his favour yesterday.

Workers of Kraft Foods, who have staged numerous protests to press the US-based company to rehire some 20 workers, today staged a roadblock on the Pan-American Highway generating a massive traffic jam in the Buenos Aires district of General Pacheco.

Earlier today, union-leader Bogado resumed working after a ruling of a labour court ordered the firm to allow him to return to work and continue representing the food workers union.

The company had previously refused to take him back, accusing the unionist of being the leaders of the violent protest, and said it had videotaped Bogado smashing windows and braking machines at the plant.

Oscar Cuartango, Labour Ministry of the province of Buenos Aires, told reporters that Bogado was joined by officials of his ministry as he was walking into the plant. "It's a difficult conflict, but we have been able to make significant advances as a result of the actions of the national and provincial labour ministries."

The company, the official added, was violating labour laws when it barred Bogado from attending his job, as "union leaders can be fired or suspended, but they must be allowed to go to their working areas to continue with their tasks in their trade unions."

"Otherwise, this would pave the way for the suspension of union leaders by companies wanting to get rid of them," he outlined.