The union at Colombia's Ecopetrol has launched a 24-hour strike in protest of labor negotiations

The Colombian state-owned oil company Ecopetrol's main union launched a 24-hour strike on?Tuesday, protesting what it called a deadlock? in negotiations for a new collective negotiating agreement.

Martin Ravelo, USO union President, said that the stoppage began at 0500 local (1000 GMT) time.

USO represents employees at Ecopetrol, Colombia’s largest company and one Latin America’s?largest producers of energy. Ravelo stated that the union represents 25,000 employees directly employed by Ecopetrol and its contractors.

After 25 days of discussions, he said that there was no progress made on the demands of the union. There are 14 days remaining before the current phase of direct negotiations expires.

USO posted an earlier statement on X accusing Ecopetrol of not responding to union proposals and delaying negotiations.

Ecopetrol stated that it was open to dialogue, and that a contingency planning had been activated to protect employees and maintain operations.

Ecopetrol issued a statement saying that the company had taken the necessary measures to maintain the essential public service in its care and minimize any operational impact.

Ecopetrol workers at the?Barrancabermeja refinery said that access had been restricted to the industrial complex.

UNION DEMANDS

Sources in the company claim that the union wants to pay unionized workers a wage increase equal to inflation plus 20% for the first year after the agreement.

The union wants to reduce working hours and raise wages by 10% each year for the next four years.

Sources say that the union wants to provide broader benefits in health and education for workers. This proposal could cost up to 90 trillion pesos (about $25.28 billion). Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra, Editing by Chizu nomiyama and Alistair Bell

(source: Reuters)