Argentine fishing officers' union protests discriminatory 2% solidarity contribution, names several shipowners and un-homologated collective agreements

The Centro de Patrones y Oficiales Fluviales de Pesca y Cabotaje Marítimo filed a discrimination complaint with the Labor Secretariat in November 2026, protesting that the 2% solidarity contribution (contribución solidaria) established in collective agreements signed with the Asociación Argentina de Capitanes is applied differently to members of different unions. Guillermo Méndez, the center's head in Mar del Plata, told the media that center members pay 4% in union dues, while the Asociación Argentina de Capitanes has stipulated in collective agreements signed in recent months with several fishing shipowners' chambers that non-members must pay an additional 2% solidarity contribution.

Méndez noted that the center is not a signatory to those collective agreements, and that the rift between the two sides deepened two years ago, when the Asociación Argentina de Capitanes, led by Mariano Moreno, applied to the Labor Secretariat for a representativeness contest (compulsa) in order to restore its union representation and negotiate with fishing shipowners on other terms. "We do not want an economic burden imposed on our members while members of another union that did not sign the agreement are exempt from it," Méndez said.

According to Méndez, the collective agreements also cover members of the Centro de Capitanes de Ultramar y Oficiales de la Marina Mercante. "They did not sign the agreement either, just like us, yet the agreement exempts them from paying the contribution." Méndez argued that "exempting members of the Centro de Capitanes de Ultramar from paying this 2% while withholding it from our members is outright discrimination."

The center has filed a complaint on the discrimination issue with the Labor Secretariat. The Labor Secretariat indicated that the collective agreements signed by Jorge Frías with CAPECA, CAPIP, the Cámara de Armadores and CaIPA have not completed homologación (official approval). In all the agreements the text of the solidarity contribution clause is identical, differing only in clause number: Article 50 in the agreement with CAPECA, Article 52 in the agreements with CAPIP and the freezer fleet chamber, and Articles 9 and 10 respectively in the minutes signed with CEPA and CaFACH.

"We do not accept that money be deducted from our members' wages on the basis of an agreement that has not been approved," Méndez said. He demanded that the companies carrying out the deductions stop withholding the payments and refund the corresponding amounts, stressing: "We are not asking for special treatment, only that we not be discriminated against because of the union organization we have chosen to join."

The center has sent formal demands to the fishing companies that have been withholding the solidarity contribution, including Pesquera Santa Cruz, Iberconsa and Solimeno. Pesquera Santa Cruz rejected the demand, saying it is fulfilling an obligation arising from the agreement signed between CAPECA and the Asociación Argentina de Capitanes. Méndez countered: "The Ministry of Human Capital itself has reported that the agreement has not been approved."

The center is currently in dialogue with the shipowners' chambers and company representatives, seeking to resolve the matter through dialogue and administrative channels. "We have an obligation to defend our members' wages and union freedom through the appropriate channels," Méndez said.