Protest threatens Trinmar operations
The Trinidad Guardian
Petroleumworldtt.com 03 30 08
Operations at Trinmar Limited could come to a
halt today as contract workers who provide sea
transportation to offshore platforms have decided
to withhold their labour indefinitely.
Boat captains, engineers, sailors and other highly-skilled
workers, employed with Inland and Offshore Contractors
Ltd (IOCL) at Otahietie, South Oropouche, embarked
on protest action last Thursday.
They intensified the protest yesterday.
“IOCL wage freeze for eight years,” said
one placard. “IOCL making millions but workers’ pay
remain same,” said another held high by the
200 workers as they marched around the Oropouche
site office.
IOCL has a contract to provide offshore transport
services, passenger vessels and workboat services
for Petrotrin/Trinmar.
The IOCL workers, who are represented by the Oilfield
Workers Trade Union (OWTU), are holding out for
better wages and working conditions.
OWTU’s
Trinmar Branch President Ernesto Keesar said
the workers are being denied basic
rights such as paid annual leave and sick leave.
He said it is eight years since the workers have
had a wage increase.
He
said that since winning the right to represent
the workers, the union has had over 100 meetings
with IOCL’s management to try to reach a
new collective agreement.
“But
they have refused to bring anything to the table.”
Keesar
called for the management of Petrotrin to get
involved, because of the impact the protest
could have on Petrotrin’s operations.
Kessar
said Trinmar’s operations were slowed
down yesterday, “because there wasn’t
an adequate amount of offshore transport.”
He
said if the workers carry out their promise to
withhold their labour from today, then Trinmar’s
operations are likely to be negatively affected.
Story
by Yvonne Webb from The Trinidad Guardian
The
Trinidad
Guardian
Tuesday
18th March, 2008
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