**Demand for Removal of Salt Exporter Director Amid Strikes**
In Guerrero Negro, a significant labor crisis has unfolded against Moisés Poblanno Silva, the newly appointed director of the Salt Exporter Company (ESSA). Workers are calling for his dismissal due to controversial management decisions and alleged violation of workers’ rights.
The Salt Union held an extensive assembly where members voiced concerns about the declining state of ESSA since Poblanno Silva took charge three months ago. Union leader Martín Pérez Murrieta attributed the company’s downturn to mismanagement, highlighting detrimental decisions affecting production and workers’ rights.
Pérez criticized the administration for ignoring contractual benefits, emphasizing the disconnect between management and workers during field operations. “These decisions do not reflect the needs and operations of ESSA,” stated Pérez, expressing disbelief that such directives could stem from high-ranking government officials.
The ongoing crisis was exacerbated by a halted salt supply chain despite a significant investment to nationalize the company by purchasing a 49% share previously owned by Mitsubishi. Since this investment, more than half of the annual production remains unsold. When Poblanno Silva assumed the directorship, workers recall his immediate declaration of ceasing “privileges” without clarity on what these entailed.
Labor conditions have driven workers to question the fairness of current leadership, noting the directors’ high compensations juxtaposed with challenging working conditions for regular staff. Consequently, workers are contemplating a legal strike, necessitating the union’s collective agreement and substantial legal justification, primarily violations of the collective agreement.
Poblanno Silva defended his actions, stating they aim to dismantle “abusive privileges” rather than eliminate acquired workers’ rights. He insisted that overtime continues where necessary, maintaining the collective contract intact, albeit refusing to disclose sales agreements, directing inquiries instead to official transparency platforms.
**Additional Context: Rising Tensions in Guerrero Negro’s Salt Industry**
The turmoil in Guerrero Negro is part of a broader concern over employment security and economic stability in the region. The salt industry, a critical economic pillar, supports over 1,300 families in Mulegé. Yet, dwindling infrastructure investments and administrative challenges threaten its future.
Union members highlight past prosperous decades when ESSA was a globally recognized operation, expressing concerns about the degrading infrastructure of docks and vessels. There’s an increasing call for leadership capable of prioritizing the company’s and workers’ interests.
In a show of solidarity, workers from Cedros Island echoed demands for administrative changes, citing similar grievances regarding unjust contracts and treatment. They appeal to federal authorities for intervention to halt declining treatment and employment conditions.
Efforts to collectively navigate these challenges underline a critical period for Guerrero Negro’s salt industry, with workers and management seemingly at a crossroads in determining the company’s direction and ensuring its sustainability.