El Palito workers say they want better guarantees before returning to work

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, March 21, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Rebel Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) employees and contractor workers at the Palito Refinery in Moron (Carabobo) say they will not return to work or accept an amnesty unless they are fully reinstated and the company can guarntee safe working conditions.

Federation (Fedepetrol) secretary of organization, Rosmer Landinez says PDVSA has set up a conciliation committee but it has not offered any proposal yet.  Government spokespersons have approached to sense the environment and mood but a general assembly has just ratified that we are staying outside.

Landinez claims that 90% of the El Palito work force support the stoppage and are concerned about safety measures inside the plant. “Workers who tried to return to work have been asked to resign from PDVSA and sign an individual contract ... PDVSA wants to rescind the collective bargaining contract and fill the refinery with workers ready to sing the national anthem and 'butter up' to Chavez Frias."

Meanwhile, El Palito refinery plant coordinator, Robert Capriles has announced that the catalytic coke unit has been fired up and the BTX plant is operating.