Venezuela Protests Erupt at Palito Refinery, Nacional Reports
By Peter Wilson
Caracas, May 6 (<a href=quote.bloomberg.com>Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan National Guardsmen used tear gas to disperse pro-government protesters who were demonstrating for jobs in front of the state oil company's El Palito refinery, El Nacional reported.
About 200 protesters gathered to try to force Petroleos de Venezuela SA to honor a commitment to offer them permanent jobs that was made when a nationwide strike began Dec. 2. During the strike, Petroleos de Venezuela employed many temporary workers outside the industry to replace strikers.
Protesters claim that they are now being passed over for permanent jobs being offered at the refinery. Protesters said jobs are being handed out as political patronage by President Hugo Chavez and his close ally, Freddy Bernal, the mayor of the Libertador section of the Venezuelan capital.
El Palito is Petroleos de Venezuela's third-largest domestic Refinery, processing about 130,000 barrels a day. Petroleos de Venezuela fired more than half of its workforce of 33,000 in a bid to break the strike.
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