Workers at Yaqara Pastoral Company have staged a strike, citing the company’s failure to provide a cost of living adjustment and improve working conditions for over two years. Approximately 40 employees have walked off the job, demanding immediate action after their requests for a pay increase since 2024 have reportedly gone unanswered.
Charlie Young, a representative for the striking workers, expressed that employees have been attempting to negotiate with the company for more than two years. The collective agreement, which was signed last year, has allegedly seen the company breach its key terms since its inception. Young stated, “Last year we were able to sit on that collective agreement, and from all of last year, mostly they have been breaching most of that collective agreement.”
According to Young, workers are still receiving wages equivalent to those from 2023, which he argues are inadequate in light of rising living costs. Despite their experience, employees across various roles—including security, stockmen, drivers, and operators—are reportedly receiving a flat rate of five dollars an hour, forcing many to live paycheck to paycheck.
The situation has raised questions about the company’s financial decisions, especially after a reported dividend payment of $3.9 million to the government. Young pointed out the contradiction, stating that while the company claims low profits as the reason for not implementing wage increases, the dividend payment leaves workers puzzled.
Moreover, concerns have been voiced regarding unsafe working conditions, highlighting the lack of proper personal protective equipment and insufficient compensation for job-related injuries.
The Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations has intervened, working to mediate the dispute. In a recent statement, the Ministry confirmed that discussions with the National Workers Union and Yaqara Pastoral Company are underway, with a date for further talks to be finalized shortly.
Satish Chandra, an Industrial Relations Officer with the National Workers Union, has voiced strong support for the workers, condemning what he called negligence regarding their rights and safety. He affirmed that the strike will persist until their grievances are properly addressed, demonstrating solidarity within the workforce to secure better conditions and compensation.
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