Continental Focus, International Reach

Gabon Workers Strike

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Gabon’s petroleum workers launched a strike on December 1 after talks with the government collapsed. The workers, members of the ONEP union, have been in negotiations with the government for a number of weeks. The discussions have failed to produce the results ONEP is looking for so they have launched an open-ended strike.

Just one day into the strike Gabon’s petrol stations had consumers waiting in long lines for fear of shortages. The trade union is demanding the reinstatement of some workers who had been fired by oil companies, among other issues.

“The national bureau informs you of the start of an unlimited general strike in all oil sector companies and related activities operating in the national territory from Monday Dec. 1 at midnight,” said a union statement addressed to the workers.

Sylvain Mayabi Bine, secretary general of the union said the strike affected oil production and fuel distribution as well as the oil services sector according to a Reuters report.


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