Petrotrin workers back on the job

TWO days after shutting down operations at State-owned oil company, Petrotrin, refinery operators returned to work yesterday following marathon negotiations between the Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU) and company officials. OWTU vice-president Hollis Alexander, told Newsday the company agreed to several “terms of settlement”, including payment of overtime shift bonuses, amounting to some $14,000 per worker. Alexander said the company also agreed to a number of occupational health and safety issues, including specialised training for doctors in emergency occupational medicine. He said the company would also be providing improved safety footwear for operators as part of the settlement. Alexander said the company had also promised to “fast-track” upgrades and job reclassification for operators. Meanwhile, a Petrotrin source said the company “welcomed” the return to work by the 200-plus operators, adding that the company “remains committed to improved industrial relations with all employees.”                                       

The source also confirmed that discussions would continue until all of the workers’ grievances were resolved. The refinery is expected to resume full operations by Thursday. The OWTU negotiating team was led by President-General Errol McLeod, while Petrotrin was represented by President (Operations) Wayne Bertrand, Vice-President (Human Resources) Rollinson Agard and Vice-President, (Refinery and Operations) Kelvinn Harnanan. Negotiations are expected to resume today at the company’s Pointe-a-Pierre offices.