H&M Chile's workforce protests for higher wages
A mass strike by Chilean workers at H&M in demand of higher wages has completely disrupted the operation of the Swedish retail giant's stores in Chile. Members of H&M Chile’s labor union met on Tuesday at the Costanera Center shopping mall and other commercial centers, where, according to the Diario Financiero, they counted 429 workers in attendance, approximately 65 percent of H&M Chile’s total workforce.
Knowing that the Chilean stores have commanded some of the company’s highest sales and revenue at the global level, president of H&M Chile’s labor union Omar Lobaiza told local media, “One of the things we’re looking for with this action is a much higher base salary, and not necessarily a bonus.”
For its part, the Swedish company has expressed its position though a statement in Economía y Negocios, and says it hopes to reach an agreement with its employees as soon as possible: “Through the process of negotiation and mediation it has, unfortunately, not been possible to reach an agreement. The dialogue is open.”
The negotiations between H&M and its employees began on April 4, when the union presented its collective contract. The company responded 10 days later and since then began further negotiations, which have not produced any agreement, leading to strikes and protests from the workers.
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