Footwear workers in Argentina ask neighbours to join protest
05/10/2016
The town’s biggest producer, Wyler, should be celebrating 40 years in business in 2016 but owner, Gerardo Cucco, has said there is nothing to be happy about. In recent comments to a national newspaper, Mr Cucco said demand for Wyler’s products (the company specialises in making high-quality shoes and leather slippers for footwear groups including Grimaldi and Storkman; it also has its own brand, Pataugas) has fallen by around 35% in the last 12 months. He blamed a decline in sales in the domestic market, but also the ease with which importers have been able to bring in cheaper shoes from overseas since President Mauricio Macri was elected at the end of 2015.
“Some of our biggest customers have already told us they won’t be placing any more orders with us,” Mr Cucco commented. “They’ve become importers now.” He said that, as a result, his company is obliged to as 40 of its 150 workers to consider taking a retirement package.
In the face of possibly losing their jobs, Wyler workers sent a letter to President Macri a month ago to bring to his attention the situation the footwear industry finds itself in. They have received no reply and, as a next step, have organised a peaceful protest in Alcorta’s town square, asking local people to take part to show their support for the factory.
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