Colombia's Ecopetrol union launches 24-hour strike over stalled talks

A 24-hour strike at Ecopetrol put Colombia’s biggest company and its fuel supply chain under pressure just as union talks over a new contract stalled. The stoppage began at 0500 local time, sharpening concerns about oil output, government revenue and investor confidence at a company that produces more than 60% of Colombia’s hydrocarbons.

The Unión Sindical Obrera, or USO, said its roughly 25,000 members employed directly by Ecopetrol and its contractors were behind the action after 25 days of negotiations produced no progress, with 14 days left in the direct bargaining stage. Martin Ravelo, the union president, said the dispute reflects a deadlock over wages, hours and benefits. USO wants pay tied to inflation plus 20% in the first year, then inflation plus 10% in each of the next four years, along with shorter hours and broader health and education benefits.

That bargaining position would carry a heavy cost. Company sources said the benefit package alone could reach about 90 trillion pesos, or roughly $25.28 billion, underscoring how far apart the two sides remain. Ecopetrol said it stayed open to dialogue and had activated contingency plans to protect workers and keep operations running, while also taking the operational measures needed to maintain continuity of the essential public service under its responsibility.

The stakes are highest at Barrancabermeja, where workers said access to the industrial complex was restricted. Ecopetrol says the refinery can process up to 250,000 barrels per day and supplies close to 80% of Colombia’s domestic fuel demand. Barrancabermeja and Cartagena reached a record combined refinery load of 420,000 barrels per day on average in 2023, making any slowdown there a national concern rather than a narrow labor issue.

The standoff also reflects a wider test of labor power in Colombia’s energy sector. USO said on May 20 it had already ordered nationwide mobilization and labor disruption actions in support of the bargaining process, and on June 2 it ratified the 24-hour strike and called for peaceful protests at company sites. Ecopetrol says it is Colombia’s largest company and one of the main integrated energy groups in the Americas, with more than 19,000 employees and core operations spanning refining, petrochemicals and gas distribution. That scale is why even a brief stoppage can ripple through production, public finances and the country’s energy outlook.