NP workers back on the job

Workers at the National Petroleum Company Limited (NP) were back on the job yesterday afternoon after they held a demonstration at the company’s Sea Lots offices to protest low salaries, as well as a health and safety issue.

According to Corporate Communications Manager at NP, Keith Subero, the workers began their demonstration on Tuesday morning to express their dissatisfaction at the five percent salary increase offered by the company. NP workers, as well as members of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) were said to have blocked the path of company CEO, Gerard Acosta, for a number of minutes before they were ordered by police to allow him to enter the building.

However, the protest shifted to the health and safety issue yesterday morning after members of the OWTU raised the issue of a malfunctioning alarm system, which they said, placed the lives of workers at risk. Subero revealed that the company had held meetings with the workers and that the alarm system was reprogrammed according to the National Fire Alarm Code Number 72. Workers have since returned to their jobs. Subero further noted that trucks had recommenced their deliveries to affected areas. He could not say how many service stations were affected by the protest, stating only that these areas were mainly concentrated in North Trinidad.