The members of the Unitary Union of Workers of Pluspetrol Perú Corporation (Sutrappec), which operates lots 56 and 88 of Camisea, will begin an indefinite strike this Wednesday the 13th due to differences with the salary update proposed by the company.
Starting in July of each year, the salary of union members (40% of the almost 700 workers) increased, percentage-wise, above the inflation of the previous month.
For example, when inflation in June 2022 was 9.3%, the increase was 9.7% plus an extraordinary bonus of 2.3% for one year (12% in total).
However, when the time came for collective bargaining in 2023, Pluspetrol decided to vary the criteria based on a study not exposed to workers in which it was determined that they earned above the market. The decision was announced in November.
Instead, heThe company proposes an extraordinary monthly bonus equivalent to 6.7% (June 2023 inflation) of the salary of each worker for a period of one year. But this implies that the salary floor will not be moved or updated for the purposes of ordinary bonuses, CTSamong other benefits.
Strike in Cusco and Pisco
Last February, the indefinite strike was announced, and by directorial resolution 000048-2024-MTPE/2/14, issued on March 1, the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (MTPE) declared it inadmissible “for not having complied with the established requirements.” But it has not made it illegal.
Martín Calderón, manager of External Communication at Pluspetrol Peru, assured La República that the company has the “technical and human resources to maintain Camisea’s regular production process in adequate conditions.” A new meeting will be held today, Monday.
“There are no unique methodologies or formulas in labor negotiations. If this were the case, there would be no dialogue processes in search of agreements. In any case, we want to inform you that Salaries are determined based on the evaluation of the positions“said the spokesperson.
Along these lines, he urged the leaders of the Labor union to “rethink and objectively evaluate” the company’s proposal, which maintains workers’ income “among the highest in the Peruvian market.”
Supply on hold
Sutrappec ensures that the decision comes at a time when the Camisea Consortium records historical revenues from natural gas. The company’s ROA was 38.96% in 2022, the year in which the ROE shot up 83.87%.
In addition, it points out that the strike of its 255 members, among whom are plant and control room operators in Pisco and Cusco, Yes, it will pose a risk of market shortagessince the other 400 workers are only administrative in Lima.
“The company cannot say anything else. How would industry, transport, electricity generation and households take it if the company admits that the strike could affect supply, including exports? We do not want to generate anxiety, we are looking for a socially responsible response,” said Alfredo Villavicencio, legal advisor of the union.
The average salary of union workers It is S/9,000, but there are places that reach S/5,000. In 2022, each worker received profits of S/14,000. They are highly specialized and have a 14×14 regime, that is, they work 12 hours a day for 14 days, and 14 days off.
It should be noted that The supply of natural gas and LPG (derived from Camisea liquids) is an essential serviceregulated by law so that it develops uninterruptedly.
How is the Camisea operation going?
In 2023, total sales of lots 56 and 88 amounted to US$3,842 million, while pre-tax profits amounted to US$1,259 million.
According to researcher Alejandro Narváez, the 2018-2022 net profit remained around 20% on average with respect to total income. Only in 2020 was a lower profit (14%) obtained.
He Camisea Consortium It is made up of six companies: Pluspetrol Camisea (42.6%), Hunt Oil (25.2%), Tecpetrol (10%), Sonatrac (10%), Repsol (10%) and Pluspetrol Perú Corporation (2.2%). In the latter are the workers.
71% of the Peruvian energy matrix is fossil: oil (41%), natural gas (28%) and coal 2.4%. Renewables only contribute 4%.
Source: Larepublica
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