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The Ecopetrol strike called by the Unión Sindical Obrera (USO), which began on June 2, 2026, involved a 24-hour stoppage that paralyzed activities at the state oil company’s facilities. This most severely affected operations at the Barrancabermeja complex, marking the union’s first formal collective action following the collapse of negotiations.
Systemic Risk to National Production and the Ecopetrol Strike
The USO represents approximately 25,000 Ecopetrol workers across production fields, processing plants, pipelines, and refineries nationwide. The union’s demands include adjustments amounting to an estimated budget impact of 90 trillion Colombian pesos ($25.3 billion), a figure the company deems unfeasible. The Barrancabermeja refinery, with a capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, experienced restrictions in maintenance shifts and logistical coordination.
Ecopetrol acknowledged the operational impact of the strike at some facilities but did not confirm union figures. The state-owned company is responsible for approximately 60% of Colombia’s national hydrocarbon production. Some experts indicate that a sustained interruption would have a multiplier effect on the country’s energy balance, the availability of fuels for transport and industry, and the Colombian state’s fiscal revenues. According to the USO, working conditions at critical facilities like Barrancabermeja have progressively deteriorated operational safety.
The union statement points to a technical dimension of the conflict: underinvestment in maintenance creates reliability risks that affect both workers and the operational continuity of the Colombian energy system.
For the oil and gas engineering sector, the Ecopetrol-USO demonstration is a reminder that operational reliability has an irreducible human component. A refinery may have its equipment in perfect mechanical condition, but if specialized technicians are not on shift, the capacity to respond to emergencies degrades. Labor relations management is an integral part of any robust industrial asset management system.
Sources and photo: USO.CO
