Venezuela Aluminum Unions Continue Wage Talks, Hint At Strike

Venezuela's aluminum syndicates are still in talks with management over pending wage increases after two weeks of negotiations. The management of the Aluminum Corp. of Venezuela has improved its offer of a salary increase to 20% from 6%, but trade union representatives are still asking for a 30% overall increase. According to Amable Rivas of Sutrapural, a trade union that represents white-collar workers, there will be no strike this week, but Rivas said that in order to get a wage increase last year the workers struck 10 days. He hopes such an action will not be necessary this year. "We are looking for better sensitivity on the part of the company . while we are just looking for the minimum wage increase," Rivas said.