[Goldfisch]

@Börsengeflüster, Putin schaut doch auf seine Staatsverschuldung, die er ja so schnell als möglich durch den hohen Ölpreisanstieg, tilgen will.

Nigerian unions launch four-day strike
Mon 11 October, 2004 09:56

By Tom Ashby

LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria unions have launched a four-day general strike to protest rising fuel prices, but oil shipments from the world's seventh largest exporter are proceeding normally.

Unions plan to suspend the strike on Friday for two weeks of talks with the government, after which they are threatening a prolonged strike that could have a greater impact on the OPEC nation's economic mainstay.

"The strike started today, but for now things are loading normally," said an oil shipping source on Monday.

U.S. light crude oil prices have stayed around highs of $53 a barrel, partly due to the Nigeria strike, although oil executives said it is unlikely to impact the country's more than 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of output.

Oil executives said workers at oilfields and supply stations, mostly in the remote Niger Delta, were still working on Monday morning.

"People in the field are still working. It normally takes a while for these things to build up," said a senior oil industry executive, adding that some union members may not have received instructions to stop work yet.

Elijah Okougbo, general secretary of oil union NUPENG, said his members were not working. "Our members are not working. Those who have been trapped on platforms and export terminals for one reason or the other, are not performing."

The five major oil producers in Nigeria, Royal Dutch Shell Group, ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, Total and Agip, have contingency plans to keep oil flowing even under strike conditions.

"Even if the unions pull out I can deploy non-unionised staff to provide essential cover," the oil executive said.

THREAT OF MASS PROTESTS

The strike is the second major threat to Nigerian oil supplies in two months. Fighting between troops and ethnic militia in the Delta in September forced hundreds of oil workers to evacuate and closed about 30,000 barrels per day production.

The greatest threat to oil output could come from mass protests, if they lead to a break-down of law and order and prevent non-unionised staff from getting to work, the oil executive said. "My main concern is mob action which could get out of control."

Streets in the commercial capital Lagos and oil city Port Harcourt were calm on Monday morning, with lighter than normal traffic. Unions have called on their members to stay at home for the duration of the four-day action.

Nigeria's main union body the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says that steep fuel hikes caused by the withdrawal of state subsidies -- a key measure in President Olusegun Obasanjo's economic reform package -- are impoverishing Nigerians, most of whom live on less than a dollar a day.

The NLC has emerged as a powerful political opposition to Obasanjo since he took office in 1999, returning Nigeria to civilian rule after 15 years of military dictatorship.

Last month a high court ruled the NLC, which has has called four strikes over fuel prices in the last year, did not have the right to strike over matters unrelated to working conditions.

The government has also tabled a new law to outlaw the NLC.

NLC president Adams Oshiomhole has criticised the government for using strong arm tactics like detaining him for questioning on Saturday and tear gassing previous union protests.