Strike: Union workers say strike will end as scheduled
Brazil strike to end but new one is eyed
Brazilian offshore oil workers said they will end a five-day walkout as scheduled, but warned they may call a new, nationwide strike against state oil company Petrobras next month.
Petrobras issued a statement saying the strike and a sympathy work slowdown by refinery workers had not affected production levels.
The striking workers rejected the company's latest proposal offering overtime pay instead of the extra day off that rig employees are demanding, said Jose Maria Rangel, coordinator of the Sindipetro-NF union.
But he said the union would not extend the strike beyond its original deadline. The 48-hour slowdown by refinery workers was also set to end Saturday, said the Associated Press.
Rangel said that Petrobras did not have enough contingency workers to maintain normal levels, and production was certainly hurt despite Petrobras' statement.
''We are considering ... a bigger nationwide strike to demand greater participation in the profits,'' he added.
Launched Monday, the walkout involved some 4500 workers in the Campos basin.
Analysts and investors have been watching the strikes closely for their potential impact on international petroleum prices.