By an OGJ Online Correspondent
RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 29 -- A 5-day strike of Brazilian oil workers ended Monday morning after causing Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) $85 million in losses and dropping national oil production 60%.
Petrobras did not produce 4.2 million bbl of oil during the strike. On Sunday it produced 521,000 bbl, 62% less than normal output of 1.4 million b/d. It produced 24 million cu m of gas on Sunday, down from the normal 38 million. Petrobras said Monday production was coming back to normal.
Unlike previous strikes, the 34,000 member National Oil Workers Union did not strike downstream operations, part of a strategy not to lose public support (OGJ Online, Oct.25, 2001).
Petrobras agreed to a 6.4% salary increase, while the workers had sought 8.3%. Petrobras agreed to a bonus system tied to worker productivity and seniority.