Argentine Oil Workers Launch Strike After Accidents, Affects Vaca Muerta

Following a string of accidents that resulted in worker injuries, the largest oil union in Argentina started an indefinite strike on Sunday.

With 25,000 members, the Rio Negro, Neuquen, and La Pampa Private Oil and Gas Union is the largest in the nation. It speaks for the employees working in the Vaca Muerta shale formation in Argentina, which contains the second-largest unconventional gas reserve and the fourth-largest oil reserve in the world.

We decided to start implementing a defined plan to fight back last Thursday because we were “tired of the tragic accidents that cost lives or leave workers maimed and in absence of responses from the companies and the national government to put an end to this situation.”

They stated that previous meetings with business executives had been ineffective, describing them as “meaningless” and being employed by businesses to postpone action.

An immediate request for comment was not immediately answered by Argentina’s state oil company YPF (YPFD.BA), one of the businesses most impacted as the primary operator in the Vaca Muerta.

The statement continued, “Business owners’ disregard for human life and integrity is alarming.” “The miserable indifference of those who have decision-making power costs or destroys the lives of workers, and that is unacceptable.”

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According to local media reports, an incident last week that resulted in a worker having his arm amputated sparked this most recent strike.

The amount of oil produced by Vaca Muerta increased to 300,400 barrels per day in March, up 36% from a year earlier, and the amount of natural gas produced in that same month increased by 14%.

41% of the nation’s gas production and 47% of its oil production come from this formation.

End Note – Following accidents, Argentine oil workers go on strike; it affects Vaca Muerta

The condition of Argentine oil workers has been a topic of concern in recent years due to their ongoing struggle for better wages and working conditions. 

In February 2021, vegetable oil workers in Argentina went on a 21-day national strike demanding higher wages. Similarly, in September 2022, thousands of Argentine oil workers went on strike after an explosion at a refinery in the country. The unions representing these workers called off the strike on Friday afternoon, which they began the day before, after negotiations with the government. 

The strike by the Argentine oil workers was a result of long-standing grievances over low wages, poor working conditions, and job security. These workers are often exposed to dangerous working conditions, risking their health and safety. The strike aimed to draw attention to these issues and demand action from the government and oil companies to address them. The Argentine government has been criticized for its handling of the situation and its failure to provide adequate support to the workers. The strike has had a significant impact on the country’s oil industry, with production and exports severely affected. 

The situation highlights the need for improved working conditions and fair wages for oil workers in Argentina and the importance of addressing these issues to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for all.