[audio_pro src=»https://files.catbox.moe/kjmwhz.mp3″ titulo=»Complete interview with Valeria Ripoll»]
The debate over union privileges in Salto continues to be a topic of discussion, but this time the focus goes beyond the specific conflict with the mayor's office. Valeria Ripoll, recognized for her career leading ADEOM Montevideo, spoke with Uruguay Al Día and focused on something that is often overshadowed : the institutional responsibility of unionism to society .
For Ripoll, unions must defend labor rights, but also make a commitment to public services and the citizens who pay municipal salaries. “You can be an activist, you can have political convictions. But if you use the union as a partisan platform, you are breaking the contract with your colleagues and the people you represent,” he stated firmly.
Far from attacking the union movement, Ripoll defended its role as a tool for struggle and the achievement of rights. But he warned that the abuse of privileges, lack of oversight, and impunity ultimately undermine legitimacy . "The worker who works his heart out every day, who keeps to the clock, who sweeps streets, or works in garbage collection, can't see that there are leaders who haven't set foot in their workplace for years. That creates a rift," he said.
The conflict in Salto began when the mayor's office decided to set a 400-hour annual limit for union leave. The Adiom union opposed this and argued that the measure limited the union's work. But Ripoll believes it was, in fact, an attempt to establish clear rules after years of uncontrolled activity. "Military work wasn't prohibited here. The demand was for order. It was necessary to know who is requesting leave, for what purpose, and how many hours they are working. It's common sense," he explained.
He also recalled that when he headed the National Federation of Municipal Workers, he attempted to create a unified set of regulations for the 19 municipalities. "It wasn't achieved because it's difficult to align everyone. But at least we sought common criteria: how many leaders there can be, whether the leaves of absence are full or partial, whether they must be requested in writing, and whether they are audited," he explained.
The issue, according to Ripoll, is not only internal to the union , but also directly impacts the people. "If there are six employees on leave at a given address, who takes over the service? How are shifts covered? Who do you call when there's a shortage of staff? The answer can't be 'no one,' because the city can't wait," he noted.
In the case of Salto, the leader emphasized that there is no union persecution or elimination of the right to participate in the struggle. But she did warn against those who, in her view, confuse the roles. In that sense, she criticized the president of the local union, who, at a PIT-CNT event, called for "waging war on the coalition." "That is extremely serious. Because it is no longer a union struggle; it is partisan behavior. And that is not the mandate of a union. To engage in partisan politics, you are resigning from the union," she stated.
Regarding the role of the Ministry of Labor, Ripoll proposed that, in tense situations like the current one, it be called upon as a guarantor of good faith. "Not to impose anything, but to ensure a meeting where agreements are respected and everything can be put in writing. Currently, if there is no trust between the parties, that helps," he said.
When considering structural changes, he suggested that time limits for union leave , especially to avoid cases where a leader goes decades without returning to their position. “Contact with work is essential. If you distance yourself from everyday reality, you don't know what your colleagues are going through. You lose connection,” he said.
He also recommended separating the roles of national and local leaders. “Those who have national tasks and must travel the country, as I did, need more availability. But that's not the case for everyone. In a department with 200 or 300 employees, half of the board can't be free to work full-time. You have to use common sense,” he explained.
For Ripoll, the issue is profound and goes beyond a specific discussion. “This must be a call to rethink the unionism we want. One that is firm in defending rights, but also honest, transparent, and committed to the community. Because if we lose that connection, we lose our reason for being.”
Although he acknowledges that tensions with the mayors' offices exist and will continue to exist, he believes it is possible to agree on rules with political maturity. "What cannot happen is for workers to be held hostage by a personal or partisan project. That no longer exists," he concluded.
