Pemex, Union Extend Talks As Pension, Funding Concerns Linger

PEMEX and the National Oil Workers’ Union (STPRM) agreed to extend collective contract negotiations by 15 days, amid ongoing disputes over pensions and the lack of defined budgets for key operational areas such as maintenance and transportation, according to sources cited by Reforma.

The talks, led on the union side by Secretary General Ricardo Aldana, have included demands for increased funding not only for core operations but also for medical support, basic goods, sports activities and official ceremonies. The union has also flagged deteriorating work conditions at refineries, offshore platforms, and other facilities, pointing to delays in medical services, supplies and transportation.

“The extension is not due to a lack of willingness, but because of budget uncertainty and an ongoing austerity policy that stalls key decisions,” a union representative told the newspaper.

The negotiations come as PEMEX implements internal cutbacks, including a 1.4% reduction in non-union management roles that it says will save over MX$3.5 billion this year. While the NOC has pledged no union layoffs, the move has unsettled rank-and-file workers who fear potential impacts on job security or benefits.