Petrotrin
workers walk off job
By
Richard Charan
South Bureau
Trinidad
Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworld.com
07 30 06
Petrotrin was forced to shut down its Pointe-a-Pierre
refinery operations yesterday, after its operators
walked off the job to protest what they described
as an unacceptable offer of a new salary package.
Wage negotiations broke down again
after workers rejected a new company offer of a
ten per cent salary increase over three years, and
a two per cent annual lump sum payment.
The Oilfields Workers Trade Union,
which represents some 5,000 of the company's workers,
are insisting on a 35 percent increase.
The company's corporate communications
manager, Arnold Corneal, confirmed that the shut-down
was enforced to save the refinery equipment and
over concerns about nearby communities.
The refinery produces gasoline,
diesel, aviation fuel, sulphur, bitumen and liquid
petroleum gas (LPG) for the local and foreign markets.
When employees planned to return
to the job was unclear up to yesterday.
Operators did not report for the
7 a.m. and 3 p.m. shifts yesterday.
They are asking for a bigger shift
bonus as part of the wage increase for 2005-2008.
The company and union have been
negotiating for the past eight months, and there
have been artificial fuel shortages and panic buying
at the pump several times this year.
"The
constant interruptions of the refinery's plants
could result in severe damage to equipment. More
importantly, its presents serious health and safety
risks to our staff, residents and businesses operating
in our fence-line communities, Marabella, Gasparillo
and environs," Petrotrin said in a statement.
Trinidad Express
Tuesday, July 25th 2006
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