PDVSA-East reinstates 400 and re-hires contracting companies

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, June 01, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

National Assembly (AN) Social Development Committee president, Angel Rodriguez has accused Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) East director, Luis Marin of allowing 300-400 dismissed managers to return to work and rescinding contracts of 56 employees that undertook contingency plans during the national stoppage at San Tome plant in Monagas. 

Last week, a dozen workers initiated a hunger strike outside PDVSA HQ in Caracas and the Energy & Mines (MEM) Ministry  to protest current policy ... previously, the group had staged protests at San Tome and other eastern Venezuelan plants. 

• Rodriguez claims that coupster sectors have been regrouping inside PDVSA and easing out people, who reactivated the industry during the stoppage. 

To prove his claim, Rodriguez produced a video of PDVSA employees in an anti-government protest in December singly out people who had been reinstated ... "workers recognized them and protested forcing the administration to transfer the reinstated to Barinas."

Rodriguez mentions Javier Aranaga, who allegedly was local stoppage spokesman, Juan Bravo, Luis Guilarte, Giovanny Cova and Edson Avila and asks why was Rafael Rios dismissed when he was responsible for guaranteeing the supply of Merey crude to the Puerto La Cruz refinery. 

PDVSA-East has also renewed contracts with 9 contracting companies that adhered to the stoppage: Veracer, Rmyca, Veraica, Cafrica, Conigar, Roysso, Halcon, Yelemo and Fili.