In April 2016, Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) also announced that it was trimming its activities in the country for the same reason. A parallel between current conditions and those in 2002 In 2002, many Venezuelan workers went on strike because they were opposed to the political leader at the time, Hugo Chavez, and wanted change. Due to the low crude prices, Venezuela's GDP contracted around 10% in 2015, inflation is over 180%, and many normal citizens can't afford many of life's basic necessities.