[Marxism] FWD: Ecuador Oil Workers End Strike: AP/ Links

[dwalters@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Quito, Ecuador

(AP) Oil workers in the Ecuadorean Amazon whose six-day strike caused a sharp
drop in oil production and millions of dollars in losses agreed Sunday to
return to work, an official said.

Strikers and government officials agreed that workers from companies contracted
by state-run Petroecuador will be paid their back wages, Ecuadorean
Undersecretary of State Felipe Vega told reporters.

On March 6, about 4,000 workers walked off the job demanding payment of three
months of back pay and direct hiring by Petroecuador.

President Alfredo Palacio had decreed a state of emergency for the Amazon
provinces of Orellana, Sucumbios and Napo after several hundred protesters
seized Petroecuador's largest oil fields to press their demands.

This will be lifted in certain areas Monday and completely lifted "once peace
returns and production levels are recovered," said Vega.

Government officials also agreed to analyze on a "case by case" basis the more
than 50 third-party companies working for Petroecuador.

"This is necessary to fix this inefficient system of 15, 20, 30-day work
contracts. The workers hav

As of March 8, Petroecuador reported lost production of 197,545 barrels, costing
the company US$9.8 million (€8.22 million).

Ecuador normally produces about 535,000 barrels of crude daily, between state
and private companies, and oil revenues account for 43 percent of the national
budget.

Authorities have not yet calculated the total economic losses caused by the
strike.

Link:
<http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=316305&no=279123&rel_no=1>

Links to the recent Oil Workes Strike in Ecuador:

Rueters: Protesters, troops clash as oil strike hits Ecuador:
<http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-03-09T024815Z_01_N08470411_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-ECUADOR-OIL.xml&archived=False>

BBC News:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4788074.stm>




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