Sidor go-slow continues apace

Venezuelan workers' union Sutiss is continuing its go-slow at steel maker Sidor to pressure management to accept terms for performance evaluation as defined in contract negotiations. The action means that the firm "is operating at half steam," BNamericas has learned from a Sidor spokesperson. Sutiss had planned a 24-hour stoppage for Wednesday, November 5, "which did not go ahead and negotiations are continuing," he said. The official said a labor court decision to declare inadmissible the Sutiss submission regarding the evaluations had resulted in the union calling off the planned strike. The resolution came after more than a month of stoppages and "go-slows" by the union resulting in losses which still have not yet been quantified Moreover a decision to shut down some production lines, as a result of the "go-slow," to avoid damaging the plant and equipment, could not be reversed as the union opposed the measure, "of which the court has been informed," he said. Puerto Ordaz-based Sidor is 60% owned by the Amazonia consortium, made up of Mexico's Hylsamex of the Alfa group and Tamsa of the Techint group; Argentina's Siderar, also of the Techint group; Usiminas of Brazil and Venezuela's Sivensa. The group bought what was originally a 70% stake in the company from the state for US$2.3bn in the late 1990s. The Venezuelan state has the remaining 40%.