MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil's Petrobras rig workers begin strike next Monday

Workers from Brazil's government managed oil corporation Petrobras confirmed on Friday they will begin a five-day strike at the country's main fields in the off shore Campos basin on Monday, regardless of whether the company presents a proposal before then.

The Campos basin offshore Sao Paulo state accounts for more than 80% of Brazil's crude output of 1.8 million barrels per day. Petrobras has 42 oil rigs in the area. "The decision has been taken to only negotiate with the strike on" said Jose Genivaldo Silva, director of the United Oil Workers' Federation. The union is demanding that Petrobras count the day workers leave the platform for the shore as a working day. Petrobras Chief Executive Jose Sergio Gabrielli said the company was preparing a contingency plan and that it remains open to negotiations. "We are negotiating, we are open, and we're of the nature to avoid the strike so that it doesn't affect production," Gabrielli told journalists in Sao Paulo on Friday. "Production will continue. We will, if needed, implement a contingency plan to maintain minimum staffing to continue producing Worries about the potential strike helped push up world oil prices on Thursday, propping it to new record on Friday. However the conflict could extend as of Tuesday to a five-day nationwide strike at all Petrobras facilities, including refineries and terminals, to demand a bigger share of company profits for workers.