Talks between Santa Cruz teachers' unions, Government fail

The Santa Cruz province teachers' unions and the local Government failed to reach an agreement after a lengthy meeting which seeked to solve the ongoing conflict based on the unions demands for a 50 percent hike in salaries.

For days now, teachers have staged roadblocks on routes leading to several oil refineries in protest, halting production of oil in a province in which petrol represents a large portion of the local economy.

As a sign of good will, teachers had previously agreed to lift the roadblocks on the route leading to a YPF oil refinery during the meeting, although they warned they wouldn't agree to negotiate if the Government kept their 25 percent wage increase offer.

Earlier today, oil company Sinopec announced that they had been forced to halt oil production in the northern area of Santa Cruz “because of social conflict and protests."

"Since we have exhausted our storage capacity, we are forced to halt all production of oil in the northern area of Santa Cruz province until this conflict is resolved," the company said.

San Antonio oil services company also decided to stop oil production. Between 300 and 500 employees remain on hold, waiting for the moment they can return to work.

Road blockades set up by the protesting teachers affect oil refinieries in the cities of Las Heras, Pico Truncado and Cañadón Seco, in the province of Santa Cruz.