Petrotrin workers stage fifth protest

FOR the fifth time in the last six months, workers at Petrotrin’s Oil Stock and Port Operations Department at Pointe-a-Pierre shut down operations to protest unsanitary and unsafe working conditions. Around 7 am, workers reported for duty but delayed the start of work. There was a delay in the loading and transportation of gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel and LPG gas for about three hours. In protest action by workers three weeks ago, the State-owned company’s management promised to address the workers’ issues. 

OWTU’s Petrotrin branch secretary Shaffick Hayatali yesterday slammed the management team for its slow approach in resolving the problems. “These unsafe conditions continue to exist and they (management) not looking to have it addressed in a speedy fashion. The conditions at the Bond are deplorable and in the Marine Department, it is deplorable. “The conditions came about because of the prolonged abuse of the place. Workers cannot operate under these conditions,” Hayatali said. Union officials, led by second vice-president Errol A McLeod and Petrotrin management officials, were expected to meet at 2 pm yesterday at the Learning Resource Centre to address the workers’ problems.