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Original article: Conflicto laboral en Forestal Arauco: sindicatos denuncian despidos y precarización laboral

Mass layoffs at “Forestal Arauco S.A” have raised alarm among its workers, who also report anti-union practices.

Workers claim that they are operating in an environment of insecurity and violation of rights, leading to the formation of two unions: the “Syndicate of Workers of Forestal Arauco Celco” and the “Inter-Company Syndicate of Forestry Workers”.

Among the demands of the first union—established in June of this year—are improved working conditions, including access to drinking water, sanitation facilities, canteens, adequate clothing, and personal protective equipment that, they allege, the company has stopped providing. 

Additionally, there are salary demands, including the standardization of wages based on position and production, the payment of bonuses for additional responsibilities—such as transporting personnel in trucks—and wage discrepancies based on the type of required license (A4 or A5). 

It is worth mentioning that the “Syndicate of Workers of Forestal Arauco Celco” was formed with 92 workers, a significant portion of whom, they report, have already been laid off. 

On another note, the “Inter-Company Syndicate of Forestry Workers” was established on June 18, with a total of 57 members. Out of this group, 36 are employees of Forestal Arauco, with at least 20 having been laid off, according to union leaders.

Due to these terminations and without considering other layoffs recorded at the Forestal Arauco sawmill—where more than 70 individuals were reportedly dismissed on June 24—both unions accuse the company of conducting union persecution. 

“Arauco has been consistently laying off workers. Today, the concern is immense because there is no oversight, and authorities are not responding. A person who is laid off at 50 has very few chances of finding another job,” denounces Juan Sáez, President of the National Forestry Federation Rodrigo Cisterna.

Impact on Communities 

Furthermore, Sáez explained that the situation extends beyond the laid-off workers, as it also affects communities whose economic activities rely heavily on forestry.

He noted that areas like Curanilahue, Los Álamos, and much of the Arauco province have limited job alternatives; thus, every termination does not just impact the individual losing their job but also their family and the local economy, given the strong dependence on forestry activities. In this context, Sáez emphasized that “behind every laid-off worker is a family. There is practically no other source of employment.” 

Additionally, as an example of the impact this situation has generated, he pointed out that not only forestry workers have been affected, but also drivers in charge of transporting wood, who, he claimed, have suffered reductions in both their working hours and working conditions. 

Concerns Regarding Oversight 

The forestry leader also criticized the actions of the Labor Inspection, asserting that despite the complaints filed, timely responses have not been received from the agency. 

Sáez even claimed that on one occasion, the Labor Inspection informed him that inspectors were on medical leave or vacation, a situation he called “a joke.” 

“Today, we are requesting oversight from the Labor Inspection because the workers who formed the union have protection during the first 30 days. With that report, we will have to go to court,” he stated.

Lastly, Sáez remarked that there is a prevailing sense in the area that Forestal Arauco operates above the law, as there are no inspections, and authorities exert no pressure to explain why these layoffs continue to occur. 

“It seems that Arauco determines everything that happens in the region,” he concluded. 

Allegations of Anti-Union Practices 

For his part, Rodrigo Palma, president of the Inter-Company Syndicate of Forestry Workers, stated that since the establishment of the unions, there have been threats from the company warning workers of impending layoffs, a situation that has reportedly materialized.

“Initially, after the creation of the union, they began to intimidate people, telling them that layoffs would come. Moreover, the treatment of union members involved marginalization, in the sense that they were not provided with the appropriate personal protective equipment that every worker requires. This was compounded by constant criticism for having formed the union, which caused discontent among other workers who were not members,” Palma claimed. 

Palma indicated that currently there are 36 workers with union protection, and in his view, fundamental rights are being violated through anti-union practices.

“We are filing a collective lawsuit for the workers with protection and will appeal so that others are not marginalized, as they are blocked from finding work at other companies. We are also considering organizing protests,” he stated.

Finally, Palma concluded: “The message to the workers still at the company is not to let themselves be overpowered. Labor will always be a necessary asset and must be respected in all contexts. For large companies, in the end, we are just another number.”

The conflict between the unions and Forestal Arauco continues to create tension in the area, as reports of layoffs, job insecurity, and potential anti-union practices grow. Amid a landscape marked by uncertainty, workers insist on the need for increased oversight and labor guarantees, warning that the impact of these layoffs transcends individual cases and directly affects the local economies that depend on the forestry industry. 

La entrada Labor Disputes at Forestal Arauco: Unions Report Mass Layoffs and Job Insecurity se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.