24 May, 2013A four-day strike of oil services company workers hit Kuwait with the overwhelming majority of workers at the Oil Sector Services Company taking action to support demands including higher wages.
After exhausting all means of negotiating with the employer, Sunday 19 May, 2013 saw more than a thousand workers at the state-owned Oil Sector Services Company (OSSO) taking strike action. The company provides security and other services to the industry in the country and is owned by Kuwait Petroleum Corp.
Workers returned to work after four days of strike when management acceded to worker demands. Initially the company had attempted to break the workers resolve by sending individual letters to the strikers threatening them with forced transfers, cut wages and even dismissal. However workers stood firm and maintained their strike despite the employer intimidation and after four days of industrial action the company administration changed attitude and the union was able to quickly sign an agreement with the company which we are informed is implementing all worker demands.
The workers are members of the IndustriALL Global Union affiliate in Kuwait, the Oil & Petrochemical Industries Workers Confederation and their action had been unanimously approved by the General Assembly of the Union.
We join with the union in congratulating the workers on their resolve and determination which led to this resounding victory.