T&TEC,
Trinmar workers stay away
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
11 04 07
Customer service at the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity
Commission (T&TEC)
in several areas was affected yesterday because a number of workers stayed
off the job.
And at State-owned oil company Petrotrin's Trinmar
operations workers downed tools for several hours.
Employees at both operations are represented by
the Oildfields Workers Trade Union and are locked
in negotiations on various matters.
T&TEC,
in a statement, said customer service centres
at Point Fortin and Couva would be closed
due to poor worker turnout. It warned that Tobago
will also be affected due to the limited number
of crews that will be able to respond to emergency
calls.
T&TEC corporate communications manager Stephen
Martel said he did not know why the workers were
absent. "I do not know any reason why workers
are staying away. I suppose they are sick in those
areas. In the government service, workers are allowed
sick leave and vacation and can be absent within
that time frame. I have no other information," he
said.
Sources
among T&TEC workers at the San Fernando
branch on Cipero Street said that salary negotiations
between the utility and the union were the main
issue keeping them away from manning their stations.
Worker absenteeism is expected to continue today.
At Trinmar, production was not affected by the
workers' action, a company official said.
Story
by Odette
Loney from South Bureau, Trinidad
Express
Trinidad
Express
Thursday, November 1st 2007
Copyright
©2007 Petroleumworld. All Rights Reserved.
