Repsol's Sines, Portugal petrochemicals complex to be hit by second one-day strike; cracker turnaround brought forward

23 February 2005 14:15  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--A pay dispute at Repsol YPF’s recently acquired petrochemicals complex in Sines, Portugal will lead to a second 24-hour strike, planned to begin at midnight on Thursday (24 February), the company confirmed to CNI on Wednesday.

 

It has also obliged Repsol to advance a cracker turnaround.

 

Workers took action on Monday (21 February) when about a quarter of the site’s 460-workforce walked out.

 

The company described the impact of the first strike as “minimal” and said it was equally prepared for Friday’s action.

 

A spokesman said: “The impact of the strike was minimal as we have sufficient product in stock to serve customers and also other plants if needed to supply them as required.” He added that scheduled maintenance service for the cracker unit had been brought forward and was currently under way. This will be completed within two weeks, he said.

 

Pay negotiations began in January. About 25% of staff have agreed to a pay raise of 2.9% above inflation, said the spokesman. However, staff belonging to the CGTP union - about half the workforce - have not accepted the offer. The remaining 25% of staff are non-unionised.

 

Spanish-Argentinean energy group Repsol YPF acquired Repsol Polimeros (formerly Borealis Polimeros) from Borealis in October 2004.

 

The Sines complex consists of a cracker with 350 000 tonne/year of ethylene capacity, a 180 000 tonne/year propylene plant, a 145 000 tonne/year low-density polyethylene (ldPE) unit and a high density PE plant with a capacity of 130 000 tonne/year.

By: Glenda Thisdell
+44 20 8652 3214

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