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Conaf Workers' Strike Forces Closure of 49 National Parks and Reserves Across the Country
At least 49 national parks and reserves across the country remained closed yesterday for the second consecutive day due to a strike by officials.
A protest that for the first time brings together workers from all unions grouped under the National Federation of Conaf Unions, an entity that, according to the new institutional framework, has been transformed into the National Forestry Service (Senafor), under the Ministry of Agriculture (though the corresponding decrees are still pending); and the Biodiversity and Protected Wild Areas Service (SBAP), which will be managed by the Ministry of the Environment.
Yesterday, union representatives, along with the Undersecretary of Agriculture, Alan Espinoza, and the executive director of Conaf, Aída Baldini, attended the Senate Agriculture Committee.
"We are more than 1,634 of Conaf's 2,154 workers. All areas are represented among those mobilized," said Carla Vargas, president of the National Federation of Conaf Unions.
The Demands
Among the irregularities denounced by the workers, which prompted the protest, is the hiring of a retired military officer as forest fire manager, "a person with no experience, who took three quick courses at Senapred and admitted he came to learn from us," the leader complained. They also accused Baldini of creating unnecessary units and management positions.
The undersecretary, meanwhile, was criticized for appointing a close associate, "his compadre," to a high-ranking position without going through the Senior Public Management competitive process—a fact Espinoza did not deny.
Baldini acknowledged it was a "tough" moment to hear the accusations. She also explained that the ongoing process is not easy. "We have consulted the Civil Service and the Comptroller's Office, but they don’t have answers to many questions, such as how to end Conaf’s tax role," she said.
She also noted that this is the first time a 55-year-old private law corporation is being transformed into a public service.
But the workers believe there is chaos, and "what we want is for both Baldini and the minister (of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela) to leave. Here, the workers are the least important to this government," Vargas criticized.
Working Table
The Agriculture Minister was scheduled to attend the session yesterday. However, he neither showed up nor excused himself. "Tell the minister we were waiting for him, that it was important for him to come," committee chair Alejandra Sepúlveda (Green Regionalist) told the undersecretary.
Additionally, the lawmaker urged the parties to form a working table to resolve the issues, though by the time this edition closed, it had not materialized.
"The ministry emailed all the leaders to now call an online meeting (...) we’ll see what happens. We are on an indefinite strike," they stated.
Source:El Mercurio
