Ceska Rafinerska Workers Reject Strike Plan

Workers at Ceska Rafinerska will not take strike action to demand higher wages, averting a potential shutdown of the largest Czech refinery, a union official said on Wednesday.    

Czech downstream oil group Unipetrol, a unit of Poland's PKN Orlen, owns a 51.2% stake in the refinery, which has total annual capacity of around 8 million tons.    

Jan Klimes, head of the union at the refinery, told Reuters that 59% of workers had supported the strike in a vote, but below the two-thirds required under state law to approve the action.    

The union has been negotiating a new wage deal for five months. Management last offered a 0.8% wage rise, but Klimes said he hoped for a slightly higher final offer.    

"We will not continue the negotiations and will see what the management presents," Klimes said by telephone.    

Italy's Eni also holds a nearly 33% stake, while Royal Dutch Shell owns the remaining stake.