Dissident managers at Petroleos de Venezuela SA claimed that about 75 percent of their colleagues stayed home, Dow Jones Newswires reported, quoting a company official who declined to be identified.
Production at the company, a key producer of oil for the United States, wasn't affected. Blue-collar labor unions support the dissident managers but didn't participate Thursday.
The managers want Chavez to rescind his February appointments of five directors to the company's board, claiming they aren't qualified and form part of an effort to exert increased government control over the monopoly's finances. Chavez says the directors are fully qualified, and his government has repeatedly warned the protesters they could be fired.
A full-blown strike by both management and blue-collar workers appeared remote. Some managers have said they're willing to accept a compromise in which additional directors who would better represent company interests are appointed.
But Thursday's action exacerbated tensions at the company, which employs 40,000 people and is Venezuela's key income source.
Nicolas Maduro, a legislator with Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement party, claimed there were various "acts of sabotage" at company facilities across the nation. Without providing details, he said the perpetrators would be brought to justice. [End]