Use Army to get Train IV going

The Point Fortin Chamber of Industry and Commerce is calling on Train IV Atlantic LNG construction workers not to be intimidated, and to make a decision before it is too late. “Trinidad is in a monkey’s drawers unless workers voluntary come back next week, or preferably Government recognise the gravity of the situation and openly bring in the military and police to guarantee the right of any worker to go back to work, without intimidation,” the Chamber’s PRO, Lennox Bradshaw, said yesterday. Bradshaw said the Chamber was convinced that Bechtel International will leave unless the workers return to work early next week. He said the majority of striking workers want to return to work, but they are afraid of intimidation by a certain group.

Bradshaw said yesterday morning Bechtel made the striking workers an improved offer, which was not negotiable. “They are through with the negotiations. It is either they come back to work or Bechtel leaves. The chips are down and they (workers)  have to make a decision one way or the other.” He said that Bechtel had offered to sell surplus material to Chamber’s members when they are ready to leave. In addition, he said 100 more Bechtel employees have been served with termination notices.

Pointing out the implications if Bechtel left, Bradshaw said: “The workers will have no work. If Bechtel leaves, it is not likely that they would return in less than a year.” He added that the workers do not understand that the process under which the plant operates is unique and the only kind in the world. He said ALNG was not in a position to call another company to furnish the plant since Bechtel International was the only one authorised and capable of building such a plant. “This type of plant is so revolutionary that it is processing LNG at half the cost of an older plant. All over the world they (plants) are shutting down and ordering a plant like this one (ALNG),” he added.

Indicating that whereas Bechtel would simply move its expatriates to other plants all over the world, ALNG would lose operations and millions of dollars. He added that they had planned to build Trains V and VI and that too would be lost. Bradshaw said the workers should take the Easter weekend to consider the implications of their actions, including the welfare and that of their families, and make a decision early next week.