Colombia's principal union at the state oil company Ecopetrol commenced a 24-hour stoppage on Tuesday, protesting what it described as a breakdown in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement. The strike began at 0500 local time (1000 GMT), according to USO union president Martin Ravelo.
USO, which represents workers directly employed by Ecopetrol and those working for its contractors, said its membership totals 25,000. Ravelo told Reuters the union had seen no movement on its proposals after 25 days of bargaining and noted there were 14 days remaining before the current phase of direct negotiations would expire.
In a prior post on X, the union accused an Ecopetrol executive of not responding to its proposals and of delaying the talks. Ecopetrol, in turn, said it remained willing to engage in dialogue and had put a contingency plan into action aimed at protecting staff and keeping operations running.
"The company has implemented the necessary operational measures at its facilities and workplaces to ensure continuity of the essential public service under its responsibility and to mitigate any possible operational impact," Ecopetrol said in a statement.
On the ground, workers at Ecopetrol's Barrancabermeja refinery told Reuters that access to the industrial complex had been restricted as the stoppage took effect.
Sources within the company outlined the core elements of USO's demands. The union is seeking a pay increase for unionized employees equal to inflation plus 20% in the first year of the new agreement. For each of the following four years, the union is requesting raises equivalent to inflation plus 10%, together with shorter working hours.
USO is also asking for expanded health and education benefits for workers. Company sources estimated that that proposal could carry a cost on the order of 90 trillion pesos, which is given as $25.28 billion in the figures cited by the parties.
The stoppage and the positions on the table leave the two sides in a standoff as the clock runs down on the current negotiation period. Ecopetrol's contingency measures are intended to limit operational effects, while the union has taken direct action to pressure the company amid what it says is an absence of progress.
Context note: The parties remain engaged in a formal negotiation process, with the union continuing to press its wage, hours and benefits proposals and the company signaling openness to continued dialogue while protecting operations.