Dr Jose Khan Salamat Venezuela's basic industries & mining minister has announced an agreement between Sidor steel and iron company and unions fixing tab positions or job tabulators.

Talks on the contentious matter took place between Sidor worker directors, representatives from the Venezuelan Guayana Corporation and SUTISS trade union leaders.

Mr Khan, who signed the agreement bringing it into force, called it a victory for the workers and said it fitted in the policy of promoting worker control in Guayana's heavy industries. He declared the historic agreement would bring labor peace to the company and production could go ahead as planned.

Mr Khan Salamat did admit, however, that Sidor's commitment to honor its debts to workers would bring serious cash flow problems.

The union, for its part, promised to guarantee continued operations inside the factory and comply with company goals. In neighboring Venalum aluminum plant the picture is not as rosy with unions constantly disrupting production to secure payment of debts and tab positions as well.

In that particular case, the unions seem hell bent on sinking the government's worker control policy.

(Sourced from www.vheadline.com)