Oil workers urge Chavez to pay

[Zorro]

Source: BBC

On the shores of Latin America's largest lake lies Ciudad Ojeda, a town dedicated to oil.

Almost everyone here works in the industry, either directly as contract workers or because their restaurants, bars and other small businesses rely on the free-spending oil workers to stay afloat.

Last month, a significant change happened in Ojeda. Dozens of those contractor businesses were expropriated, along with their assets.

Overnight, 300 boats and an estimated 8,000 workers passed into government hands.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8093790.stm

[Flaneur]

1. If Chavez is going to nationalize, he better do it right.

Socialism is not an ideological bugaboo for me, but let's not give it a bad name, eh, presidente?

[WriteDown]

2. Another plot by Coke Zero to tarnish...

one of the the greatest leaders the world has ever known!

[Psephos]

3. What an uninformed thing to say...

Even my nine-year-old niece knows it's a plot by that pasta factory. ;)

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE54E5P620090515?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=22&sp=true

[dipsydoodle]

6. Yes , The key para in your link is

Deputy food minister Rafael Coronado said the government would run the factory for 90 days after officials found it was not producing enough of a type of pasta sold at cheap, government-established prices.

That issue is wholly unassociated with oil.

[Psephos]

15. umm, it stops being a joke when it has to be explained

couple of things, though

1. WriteDown's joke was that this was related to Venezuela's bizarre recent ban on Coke Zero. My joke was that it was another victim of bizarre government takings behind the conspiracy. So without even realizing it, you're right, these posts are wholly unassociated with oil. They're associated with sarcasm.

2. Would you like to place a small wager on whether or not that pasta factory returns to private operation at the end of 90 days? (That would be in the first part of August.) I'll be glad to do some business with you. :)

[bertman]

4. I'm starting to think that Hugo doesn't have a very good game plan. Why would he

alienate critical workers like these folks by withholding their wages for months?

[imdjh]

5. Fear not, some lackey will explain it to you, in 10, 9, 8 .....

[EFerrari]

18. Some lackey? Is that your anti-intellectual term for people who know more than you?

lol

[WriteDown]

22. Please then...

impart some of your vast knowledge as to why these workers aren't being paid then. :eyes:

[EFerrari]

28. I don't know anything about this case.

:)

[dipsydoodle]

7. Didn't you post this May 21st ?

If not then what's this ? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3886730

The article, which as you are aware is from the BBC News Business section, makes it clear this happened a month ago and as such is hardly LBN.

[WriteDown]

8. See post 5. nt

[Zorro]

9. Perhaps I am too presumptuous

I presumed most readers understand the concept of "date", and would realize that an article dated 23 June does not mean "a month ago".

[dipsydoodle]

10. Your OP states last month,

you know it happened then because you posted it then apart from which if it was actual news the BBC would have posted it under World News/ Americas and if you can be bothered to check it isn't there.

[WriteDown]

11. The seizures and the lack of pay are two different

issues with two different time stamps. What exactly are you trying to say? Have these workers been paid?

[Rage for Order]

12. The mood was strikingly different a few weeks ago

From the article in the OP:

There were scenes of jubilation as President Hugo Chavez came to the dockside by Lake Maracaibo to meet the newly nationalised oil workers.

They waved red flags and celebrated their addition to the payroll of the state-run energy company, PDVSA.

A few weeks later, and those celebrations have turned to protests.

In the central square of Ciudad Ojeda, a noisy demonstration of about 100 workers is held in the stifling mid-morning heat.

Some say they lost their jobs during the nationalisation, others that their pay has been frozen.

"I haven't been paid for more than two months now," says young father-of-four Jose Cardoso.

"There's no food at home and we're getting desperate," he says, adding that he would be willing to go to prison over his outstanding wages.

Oh well. You have to break a few eggs (i.e. poor people) to make an omelet, right Herr Hugo?

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. It would seem that one article is about the nationalization, the other is about the effects

[David__77]

13. PDVSA, not Chavez, will have to pay.

I love how it's all personalized with new media about "Chavez" this and "Chavez" that, as if he micromanages every single thing. He does do it with some things, but not everything in the country. I do hope they'll be paid soon though. That's not the way to lead a socialist transformation.

[DatManFromNawlins]

14. Bullshit.

He made the decision to nationalize those companies, so he has the responsibility to make sure that the workers are treated fairly. Doesn't matter who ultimately pays them, HE'S responsible for their suffering.

[David__77]

16. These people don't work for PDVSA. They might be unemployed.

PDVSA is making the decision on which employees to hire. They may hire these workers, or they may hire others who are deemed more qualified.

I DO believe the state should look after the interests of these working people though. PDVSA should make its decisions based on what will bring maximum efficiency to the oil industry, while still fulfilling its social obligations.

[EFerrari]

20. But he doesn't own the media. Do you have an update? Thanks.

[EFerrari]

19. I know. It's hilarious. According to the media, Hugo Chavez is a one man band

and people who don't better eat it up with a spoon. lol

[hughee99]

17. At least they're not working for slave wages...

Somewhere in the Far East there's a factory manager telling his 12 year old employees, "You think YOU don't get paid well, in Venezuela, some people don't get paid at all."

[imdjh]

21. Slaves got food, clothing, shelter, and an allowance. Beats unpaid wages. nt

[dotymed]

23. WOW

I never thought, when I joined DU. I'd read some IDIOT,
writing on the benefits of slavery. In a country like
Venezuela, where the corporate media is ceaselessly trying to
undermine the work of one of the worlds most popularly (by the
vast majority of Venezuelans) elected presidents, how could
anyone be surprised by this story? Has anyone attempted to
verify it? I wish we had a President who would dedicate
him/her self to righting the injustices of corporate rule.

[WriteDown]

24. Glad to know some people recognize Coke Zero's work...

when they see it.

[bitchkitty]

25. Oh, you'll see lots of idiots.

Chavez brings out the idiot in a lot of people, almost always very right-leaning people, who call themselves Democrats.

[imdjh]

26. Do you feel better now?

Getting your panties in a knot can be therapeutic and I'd hate to deny you your righteous rant as if I were writing on the benefits of slavery, which of course I wasn't. Are there slaves in Venezuela? Didn't think so.

It was an offhand remark, but I'm glad to have given you a platform for righteous indignation. Have a nice day.


BTW, notice how i didn't call you an idiot?

[dotymed]

29. PROBABLY BECAUSE

My post wasn't idiotic.BTW,(cool one)lol, Venezuelans have
been indentured slaves for centuries. Americans are becoming
the same..