Buquebus workers are protesting against working conditions and salaries, such as “loss of rest and excessive working hours (up to 16); rotating unemployment insurance; loss of salary since 2019; disciplinary warnings for errors, the result of so many hours of work,” says Suntma (Union of Sea Workers and Related Workers).
The statement issued on Monday 29th speaks of the difficult situation that the workers of the river traffic company of millionaire Juan Carlos López Mena say they are suffering.
Suntma Press Release
It is public knowledge that the company Buquebus will be adding a new and modern ship to its fleet next year. We welcome this, but we would also like to mention that this technological advance, which according to the company will have a minimal environmental impact because it is an ecological ship, is being paid for by the workers, with our sacrifice and with losses in working conditions.
We, the workers, are in conditions that are physically and psychologically exhausting, with work days of more than 16 hours, sleeping outside our homes without taking our work break established by maritime regulations.
In addition to this problem that we have been dealing with for many years, the company has not stopped sending workers to unemployment insurance, overloading those who remain in the operation of the ships.
In 2019, under threats from the company to lay off more than 120 workers, we had a 10% salary cut, a cut that was obviously not returned in years of economic prosperity and good productivity.
The last few years have been record-breaking for the company in ticket sales, but the service has not improved. The company works with fewer staff and serves more passengers, which is detrimental to them. In the event of any error due to fatigue and long hours of the crew, the workers are reprimanded.
We, the workers of Buquebus, want decent conditions. Less advertising and marketing and more social and labour responsibility with the workers who keep the company running.
