Striking Petrobras Workers End Strike Paralyzing Brazil’s Oil Industry

After paralyzing operations at the offshore platforms and refineries of Brazil’s troubled National Oil Company Petrobras for the last three days, workers ended a strike Monday.  Members of the Federation of Petroleum Workers walked off the job just before Christmas after rejecting a proposed salary increase that fell short of inflation.  The union is also concerned about a contract changes that could reduce hours for the company’s 85,000 workers.  The strike occurred against the backdrop of a massive corruption scandal in the company, involving price-fixing and kickbacks.