VENEZUELA: OIL WORKERS CALL OFF STRIKE скачать в хорошем качестве

VENEZUELA: OIL WORKERS CALL OFF STRIKE

(3 Mar 2000) Spanish/Nat A nationwide strike by thousands of oil workers in Venezuela has been called off. Union representatives claimed that they cut the action short so as not to allow the state oil monopoly to implement its contingency plan, which the unions believe would involve massive firings. The strike, despite lasting only a few hours, had threatened to seriously disrupt production in Venezuela, which is the third-largest oil exporter in the world. Thousands of workers took to the streets earlier in the day to protest state oil monopoly Petroleos de Venezuela's refusal to sign a preliminary accord for a new labour contract. While lasting barely half a day , the action endangered output from the third largest petroleum exporter in the world. The state oil monopoly implemented a contingency plan to ensure continued exports and the government sent in the National Guard to keep order. There was disagreement about how many workers were striking. Government officials called the strike a failure. SOUNDBITE:(Spanish) \"Nevertheless, we can say that all operations are going on at 85 or 90 percent of capacity, which means that the call to strike has been a real failure.\" SUPER CAPTION: Domingo Mariscobetre, Director of Petroleos de Venezuela But unions said compliance with the strike was widespread. SOUNDBITE:(Spanish) \"We are receiving word from all over the country that the workers are heeding the unions' call to strike, which shows that the workers are taking an active role in this conflict to defend their labour contract.\" SUPER CAPTION: Carlos Ortega, Federal Petrol Union The strike came at a time when decreased world oil production has driven international oil prices to nine-year highs. Because Venezuela is one of the top three foreign suppliers of oil to the United States, a supply disruption could have meant even higher gasoline and heating oil costs for consumers. The strike against Petroleos de Venezuela, or PdVSA, underscored growing strife for the government of President Hugo Chavez. He came to power a year ago promising to champion workers' rights but insists the country's union leadership is corrupt. The collective contract for petroleum workers expired in November. Company and government officials said they did not want to negotiate a new contract until union leaders, whom they say are linked to corrupt political parties, are replaced in democratic elections. Union leaders deny allegations of corruption and say Chavez is putting labour freedoms in jeopardy. Oil accounts for about three-quarters of Venezuela's export earnings. The country exports some 2 point 72 (m) million barrels of oil per day. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...