CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug 13, 2004 (The Canadian Press via COMTEX) -- If President Hugo Chavez loses a bitterly contested weekend recall referendum on his rule, one of the biggest challenges for the opposition would be to stabilize labour relations within Venezuela's government-run oil company.
An opposition government would have to work with Chavez loyalists currently running Petroleos de Venezuela, known as PDVSA, while appeasing almost 19,000 employees fired last year for participating in a crippling strike - many of whom have poured their energies into the recall effort and are desperate to get their jobs back.
The situation in the world's No. 5 oil exporter could further upset global markets, where prices are already soaring to record highs of more than $46 a barrel.
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