Petrotrin workers in early morning protest

OVER 600 Petrotrin workers downed tools and engaged in an early morning march in front of the State-owned oil company’s Pointe-a-Pierre administration offices yesterday. The workers, led by the Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU), also marched along the Southern Main Road to the company’s Guaracara Park Medical Centre, causing a slowdown in traffic during the early morning peak period. Chanting a number of union battle-songs, the workers, who were armed with placards which read “Dr Coombs must go” and “How many more must die,” also called for “full settlement” on wage negotiations for monthly paid workers.

OWTU (Petrotrin Branch) secretary Shaffick Hyatali said workers were upset that a planned review of the company’s medical plan had been put on hold. He said since December 17, the company gave a commitment to meet with union officials to discuss improvements to the medical plan. “We have been asking for a meeting for the longest time, but so far they (Petrotrin officials) have not agreed to meet with the union,” he said. Hyatali outlined a number of workers’ grievances, including an upgrade of medical benefits to retirees to that comparable with medical benefits at another Petrotrin subsidiary, Trinmar Operations.

“Trinmar retirees are eligible to benefits of up to $125,000 on medical procedures while we here at Petrotrin are not covered to that limit,” he said, adding that under the present medical plan, retirees were not covered for either heart bypass surgery or other surgeries related to complications arising from renal failure or other associated problems. “There is not a single in-house doctor at the Augustus Long Hospital, and you literally have to call to find out if a doctor is available before going for treatment,” added Hyatali. A Petrotrin media relations official has promised to issue a statement on workers’ concerns.