Approximately 40 garbage collectors in Playa del Carmen have initiated a strike. They are demanding that their employer, Electrotaller Industrial y Comercial El Rural, pays their overdue benefits and provides a fair severance package. The strike comes as the company's contract with the Solidaridad Municipality is set to expire.
The strike began at the Municipal Public Services Secretariat headquarters. The workers are concerned about the uncertainty surrounding their severance entitlements when the contract ends on September 29th, coinciding with the conclusion of the current municipal government's term.
The workers have also criticized the management of Electrotaller Industrial y Comercial El Rural for failing to pay their employment benefits on time, a right they are entitled to by law. They claim to suffer daily labor exploitation from their direct superiors.
One worker highlighted the demanding nature of their job, stating, "Garbage collection is a very hard job. We're talking about each truck doing two trips per shift, each trip involves 10 tons. That's around 400 tons per month."
The workers also claim that they have not received the benefits promised to them when they were hired, with only a 200 peso bonus being provided. The average wage for most workers is 6,000 pesos every two weeks, while assistants receive 4,000 pesos for working shifts longer than 8 hours.
The workers have vowed not to return to work until the company pays their overdue benefits and commits to providing a fair severance package. One worker stated, "We can't believe they don't have money for us, if they have a pile. That's why we want to be paid, or the trucks won't go out."
Electrotaller Industrial y Comercial El Rural was contracted by the Municipality in 2021 to service the tourist area of Playa del Carmen.
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