14 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 29/2004
The 20-million-member ICEM, the predominant global trade union federation in the oil industry, today applauded the victory by Union Sindical Obrera de la Industria Del Petroleo (USO) in Colombia in the 37-day strike that concluded yesterday with state-owned Ecopetrol.
An agreement was reached 26 May between USO and the Colombian government that will roll back newly written contracts with favorable terms to the oil multinationals on the exploration and production of oil fields, thus preserving the company and keeping oil reserves in the hands of the citizens of Colombia.
"We extend our congratulations to the leaders and members of USO in this pivotal strike to keep in Colombia what rightfully belongs in Colombia," stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs.
The victory, in essence, avoids the privatisation of Ecopetrol. The new agreement calls for oil fields now operated by outside firms to revert to Ecopetrol control once the contracts expire.
Some 250 USO members including President Gabriel Alvis who were sacked after the government declared the strike illegal will retain their full pension rights and have an opportunity to win their jobs back through the arbitration process. Ecopetrol management and the government had sought to eliminate oil workers' pensions, as well as reducing the workforce.
The strike, which began 22 April, has caused production losses of up to 500 million Colombian pesos per day (US$180,000), according to published reports by analysts. The government has claimed that contingency plans put in place prior to the strike would not affect refinery or oil field production.
The ICEM spearheaded a global drive among energy unions and other affiliates to back USO by registering direct protests with the Colombian government of President Alvaro Uribe.
An agreement was reached 26 May between USO and the Colombian government that will roll back newly written contracts with favorable terms to the oil multinationals on the exploration and production of oil fields, thus preserving the company and keeping oil reserves in the hands of the citizens of Colombia.
"We extend our congratulations to the leaders and members of USO in this pivotal strike to keep in Colombia what rightfully belongs in Colombia," stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs.
The victory, in essence, avoids the privatisation of Ecopetrol. The new agreement calls for oil fields now operated by outside firms to revert to Ecopetrol control once the contracts expire.
Some 250 USO members including President Gabriel Alvis who were sacked after the government declared the strike illegal will retain their full pension rights and have an opportunity to win their jobs back through the arbitration process. Ecopetrol management and the government had sought to eliminate oil workers' pensions, as well as reducing the workforce.
The strike, which began 22 April, has caused production losses of up to 500 million Colombian pesos per day (US$180,000), according to published reports by analysts. The government has claimed that contingency plans put in place prior to the strike would not affect refinery or oil field production.
The ICEM spearheaded a global drive among energy unions and other affiliates to back USO by registering direct protests with the Colombian government of President Alvaro Uribe.