Petroperú workers demand departure of general manager

The institutional crisis that Petroperú has been going through has caused the agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) to lower its long-term rating a few days ago from BBB- to BB+, a step where the ‘junk bonds’ are located.

This situation, which has aroused concern on the part of the owners of the state company –the State– has also generated a lot of uncertainty in Petroperú workers, who fear that as a result of the mismanagement of the current administration, the company will end up bankrupt.

Added to this concern are the abuses that workers have been suffering from the general management, which is headed by Hugo Chávez Arévalo.

Working environment

In a dialogue with La República, Aldo Collantes, general secretary of the Petroperú Administrative Workers Union (STAPP), pointed out that on March 14 the state company announced that a total of 125 workers would have their salaries cut.

In said document, the company specified that 112 workers had salaries “not in accordance with their level of responsibility”, while another 13 were going to be relocated to positions with another salary scale (see attached document).

However, under pressure from the workers who argued that this decision by the general management had no basis, the state company rescinded the measure.

The union leader also explained that, after the STAPP did not support the current administration, they began to be attacked.

Proof of this, the current general secretary of STAPP, with 28 years of service in the company, was changed position in December of last year, going from treasury supervisor to customer service assistant. In addition, he was transferred from San Isidro to the Conchán refinery, despite the fact that the norm establishes that a union leader cannot be moved from his locality.

In this sense, through an open letter, the union stated that “it has been fired and/or humiliated with removals and transfers away from the place of its usual work and arbitrary reduction of salaries to workers with more than 40 years of service; confrontations between workers, promoting and sponsoring union organizations, corrupting the union struggle by subjugating them with gifts and advantages over which we do not accept their arrogance and abuses” (see attached document).

Another important point that Collantes alerts is that with the new administration of Hugo Chávez there was a change of about 90% of the management team of the company and these were replaced by former officials of the Regional Government of Ancash, who would not meet the ideal profile for assume great responsibility, since they do not have experience in the hydrocarbon sector.

“We want the administration to definitely change with his departure, because the financial reputation is associated with his presence in Petroperú. He (Hugo Chávez) single-handedly has spoiled the company’s image,” Collantes said.

national strike

Given this, the STAPP has called a national strike for this March 21 and 22 (48 hours) in order to stop the abuse that workers have been suffering.

However, after this call, the union said that “it has been threatening dismissal for those who abide by the stoppage.”

MEF does not support the administration

As reported by La República, there was no change in the board of directors or in the general management after the General Shareholders’ Meeting, held last Wednesday.

Petroperú, through a statement, highlighted that the board of directors and the administration were supported by the Shareholders’ Meeting, made up of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (60% participation) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (40% participation). .

However, minutes later, this statement was removed. The MEF denied what Petroperú stated and stated that it has not expressed support for the board and administration of the state company.

Documents in the midst of the crisis