Paraguay
Dispute grows in Asunci f3n over collective bargaining agreement negotiations ahead of municipal elections
Luis Bello's administration faces criticism for rushing an agreement with three unions just weeks before the October 4 vote. Opposition figures and excluded labor groups denounce a lack of transparency, while one of the unions involved denies that the document has already been signed.
With less than three weeks to go before the municipal elections on October 4, the Asuncif3n administration led by Luis Bello is facing a major controversy over the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement with the unions Sinoema, Simuca and Sitrama, the three largest in the municipality.
According to ABC Color, sources in the municipal cabinet said the talks are under pressure from unions, with the threat of a total shutdown, as well as directives from the Cartismo political command. According to those sources, the intention to move forward with the agreement is aimed at avoiding a political cost for Camilo Pe9rez, the ruling party’s candidate for mayor.
The same outlet said the Coordinadora de Sindicatos Municipales, which brings together six organizations left out of the negotiations, denounced pressure to rush the signing of the document. It also reported that those unions filed a note with the Municipal Board to object to being excluded from the discussion despite complaints made since June.
During consideration of the issue, the Board approved by majority a resolution asking the Executive to include all parties in the negotiating table and warned that excluding sectors violates current regulations, according to ABC Color.
Opposition councilor Humberto Blasco said he had unofficial information that the agreement had already been signed without the Municipal Board’s knowledge. He also warned about the financial impact of any salary commitments, recalling that last year the municipality allocated more than 63% of its tax revenue to current spending, above the legal limit of 60% set out in Law 508/94.
From one of the unions taking part in the negotiations, they rejected that version. Julio Ferne1ndez, general secretary of Sinoema, told ABC Color that the contract has not yet been signed and said the urgency stems from the defense of labor rights postponed for more than a decade. He also denied that the talks are tied to an electoral strategy and argued that the period before the elections is the most convenient time to secure benefits for workers before the new Civil Service Law takes effect and before the 2027 budget is defined.
In parallel, opposition councilors questioned the municipal Executive’s haste and called for the negotiations to be suspended until after the elections, so that the next administration can assess any budgetary commitment.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this event.
