Citrus farmworkers in the Argentine Tucumán province have begun strike action due to a dispute over pay, website lanacion.com.ar reported. 

The publication said pickers and packers belonging to a regional division of the Argentine Union of Rural Workers and Longshoremen (Uatre) began the strikes on Monday (April 27).

The strike action reportedly involved blocking roads and burning tires in protest, and lanacion.com.ar described the northwest province as being 'under siege'.

Uatre is reportedly demanding pay rises of 40% for the workers, while sector representatives are not willing to go above 30%.

The union's regional representative Ricardo Ferreyra was quoted as saying workers' current daily was around 208 pesos (US$23).

He explained the strikes had begun as the last pay agreement, that was struck in 2013, had now expired, and there were no indications a deal was near being reached for the current harvest.

He also said that if a deal was not reached by Wednesday (April 29), more protestors would take a tougher stance.

Tucuman Citrus Association (ATC) president Roberto Sánchez Loria told lanacion.com.ar that due to the less favorable exchange rates, the sector was not able to agree to the wage rise demanded by the union.

"No way can a 40% increase be approved. It's a ridiculous figure, and no productive sector in the country has the necessary conditions to delivery that with our current situation," Sánchez was quoted as saying.

"Because of that, the national government decided to not approve any increase exceeding 30%, because the current economic situation would not allow for it."

Sánchez also expressed disappointment this strike action had taken place so unexpectedly, especially since a meeting between the two parties had reportedly taken place.

"We want to sit down to negotiate, but we are not willing to do that under pressure," he was quoted as saying.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com