400
workers strike at Yara T'dad Ltd
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
01 20 08
Some
400 workers of Yara Trinidad Limited walked off the job at 3 p.m. on Friday
and vow to remain on strike until a settlement is reached between the company
and the union.
The workers are members of the Oilfields Workers
Trade Union (OWTU) and they are protesting the
long delay in settling the 2007 TO 2010 industrial
agreement. Yesterday morning there were over 100
workers at the entrance to the company's plant
at Savonetta.
Errol
McLeod, president general of the OWTU said, "the
workers will remain on strike until a settlement
is reached."
McLeod said both the company and the union held
a meeting on Friday which ended around 2 a.m. on
Saturday and they were not able to reach a settlement.
"We
are meeting with the company today ( Saturday)
around 1 p.m. at Cara Suites Hotel, Claxton
Bay, and we hope to reach a settlement at that
meeting."
McLeod
said, "In addition to wages we are
also demanding a profit sharing bonus for the workers."
McLeod
added, "So far we have held 33 meetings
and we have not been able to reach a settlement."
McLeod
said the company is refusing to go beyond 16
per cent wage increase over the three year period.
Ancel Roget, first vice president of the OWTU said
the workers are entitled to a portion of the profits
since the company's profits last year exceeded
$700 million."
He said the price of ammonia now stands at $460
per metric tonne and the rates are increasing because
of the demand for ammonia on the world market.
Yara supplies of ammonia to world markets are
in excess of 1.3 million tonnes annually.
Yara was previously owned by Hydro Agri of Norway.
Story
by Louis B Homer from
Trinidad Express, South Bureau
Trinidad
Express
Sunday,
January 20th 2008
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