Colombian oil workers strike, call for operations cuts

Colombia's powerful oil workers union has ordered the reduction of operations by 50% during a one-day strike that began Friday morning, a union leader said. A spokesman for state-owned Ecopetrol, however, told Platts that management has put a "contingency plan" in place to avert interference in its production, transportation and refining facilities. The union called the strike in response to what it said was a series of threats by right-wing extremists against union leaders in recent weeks.
The union had originally called for a peaceful strike, without any interfere of national oil operations. But according to a union spokesman, Colombia's attorney general late Thursday issued warrants for the arrest of five union organizers. In response, union leaders called for the reduction in operations.

platts.com