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Strike-Related Fuel Crisis Ends In Tahiti

Monday: March 31, 2008

(Oceania Flash)

A strike that had been paralyzing fuel supply for the whole of French Polynesia has ended at the weekend after an agreement was reached between fuel companies’ management and unions, allowing a fuel tanker to unload into the Pape'ete wharf.

Oceania Flash reports that the strike, which was entering its third week, was resolved thanks to an agreement by which companies agreed to the unions' claims, mainly on salary increase.

The conflict affected the main three oil distributors in French Polynesia, Total, Mobil and Shell.

The companies also agreed to pay striking workers during the days they were striking, plus an increase of the retirement premium.

Unloading of the some 30,000 tons of fuel contained on board the tanker "Maohi" began immediately on Friday.

The tanker had been forced to wait for the past two weeks in the Pape'ete harbor and was poised to leave the port of Tahiti due to other delivery commitments elsewhere in the Pacific region, including Vanuatu.

Last week, service stations, mainly on the island of Tahiti, have dried up one after the other and fuel-starved motorists had been queuing up in the hope they would get some petrol.
Confederation of Independent Unions (CSIP, Confédération des Syndicats Indépendants) Secretary General Patrick Galenon however hinted at the end of the strike that they had noticed some political parties had attempted to manipulate their claims in order to get political mileage.

Last week, French Polynesia's newly-returned President Gaston Flosse had called on the French High commissioner to step in and take steps to end the strike.

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