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Lagos: Striking oil workers who have shut down virtually all ExxonMobil's production in Nigeria have agreed to return to work while negotiations with the company continue, mediators said Wednesday.
A spokesman for the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC), which is mediating the talks, said a deal had been reached for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria union to return to work while talks went ahead.
The seven-day old strike has shut down virtually all Exxon's 800,000 barrels per day of production, forcing the US oil major on Monday to declare force majeure on its Nigerian shipments, meaning it could not fulfill contractural obligations to clients.
"They have agreed that they will resume work as soon as negotiations resume," said NNPC spokesman Levi Ajuonuma. "Negotiations are due to resume today... Hopefully by the end of the day they will make the announcement that they have fully called off the strike."
The first day of government-mediated negotiations broke up on Tuesday without agreement after union representatives called for a 25 per cent salary increase and improvements to pensions and working conditions, according to sources close to the talks.
"There is just a difference over the percentage on offer. [Exxon]Mobil is offering something less than they want," said Ajuonuma.
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