Petrotrin
workers ready to 'rumble' over pay demands
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtrinidad.com
05 21 06
PETROTRIN workers are ready to "rumble",
if there is no change in the company's offer for
a wage increase today.
The
negotiations for a new collective agreement for
2005 to 2008, began last December.
The
workers' representative, the Oilfields Workers Trade
Union, is seeking a 35 per cent wage increase, better
working conditions, addition to bonus and allowances
and the filling of vacancies. There has been some
agreement with the filling of vacancies but the
company is not offering anything near the union's
wage increase demand.
From
an initial offer of six per cent, the State-owned
oil company's offer has gone up to seven and a half
per cent, the Express was told. The union has turned
it down.
Within
recent weeks, the workers have downed tools and
walked off their jobs in support of the union, which
has said it is unhappy with the manner in which
the negotiations were being conducted by the company.
Last
week, hundreds of employees walked off their jobs
at Petrotrin's operations at Pointe-a-Pierre, Forest
Reserve at Fyzabad, Santa Flora, Penal/Barrackpore
and Guayaguayare.
They
have promised to repeat their action today, if negotiations
do not go their way.
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Thursday, May 18th 2006
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2005Trinidad Express. All Rights Reserved.
