Lácteos Vidal, a dairy company based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been cleared of charges in a long-running legal case over the dismissal of workers. The Appeals Chamber in Criminal and Correctional Matters officially ratified the dismissal of allegations brought by the Atilra union, concluding a three-year legal battle stemming from a factory blockade and reinstatement dispute.
Lácteos Vidal, a prominent dairy company operating out of the Buenos Aires province, has been acquitted of disobedience charges in a legal case that stemmed from a labor dispute with the Atilra union. The Appeals Chamber in Criminal and Correctional Matters confirmed the dismissal of all charges against the company’s directors on April 18, 2025, marking the conclusion of a contentious legal process that began nearly three years ago.
The legal dispute originated after Judge José Ignacio Ramonet issued a reinstatement order for workers who had been dismissed following a prolonged blockade at Lácteos Vidal’s Moctezuma facility. The company cited a breakdown in trust with the employees involved and argued that re-employment was unfeasible.
Though the fiscal prosecutor initially recommended against prosecution due to the absence of direct notification to the company’s president, the Atilra union pursued legal action. Despite appeals, the court reaffirmed that the disobedience allegations lacked merit and officially closed the case.
Lácteos Vidal had dismissed 26 workers during the blockade, and while individual settlements were reached with most, eight cases remain unresolved. The fiscal court had previously suggested fines of USD 10,000 per day for each non-reinstated worker beginning July 2022.
Alejandra Bada Vázquez, co-owner of Lácteos Vidal, expressed relief over the court’s decision, emphasizing that the legal pressure and union-led actions had created major operational challenges. She called for broader judicial reforms that support entrepreneurs facing undue disruptions from union conflicts.
This ruling is seen as a significant moment for the Argentine dairy sector, reflecting ongoing tensions between industrial management and labor organizations amid evolving legal standards.
