Unapetrol executives take case of illegal dismissals to ILO

www.vheadline.com Posted: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 1:39:14 PM By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) executives & managers trade union (Unapetrol) adviser, Edgar Quijano says the association is lodging a formal complaint at the International Labor Organization (ILO) HQ in Geneva over the dismissal of 4,500 oil workers, who downed tools to join the national stoppage in December.

“4,500 of 38,500 oil sector workers were given the sack illegally and in an arbitrary fashion, violating a government decree prohibiting employers from laying off workers.”

Quijano, who was himself given the boot, says the Chavez Frias government has violated PDVSA staff’s right to strike … “70% of those sacked belonged to the so-called major payroll including secretaries, operational and administrative staff and only 20% were top management.”

Quijano rejects charges of sabotage and challenges President Chavez Frias to provide evidence … “we handed over all oil industry installations in perfect conditions, as state prosecutors and judges can testify.”