Petrotrin workers demand more pay

One day after the announcement in the Senate concerning the large salary paid to Petrotrin executive chairman, Malcolm Jones, over 140 refinery and equipment operators at Petrotrin’s Pointe-a-Pierre oil refinery staged a noisy demonstration, demanding an increase in wages and the enactment of employees job reclassification by the State-owned energy company. 

From as early as 6.30 am, the operators waving dark-blue OWTU flags with the gold star embedded in the centre, marched around the roundabout leading to the Company’s administration offices. Chanting “We shall over come someday” the operators expressed “disgust” with the breakdown of negotiations with the Company. Addressing the gathering was OWTU president general, Errol Mc Leod, who called on the Company to address workers concerns as “quickly and as expeditiously as possible.” He said salary negotiations for the workers had not taken place since 1999, with operators becoming frustrated with the neglect being demonstrated by the Company. Mc Leod also cited the slow pace of job reclassification as among the major issues not being well handled by the Company’s Human Resources Department. “It is time for negotiation once again if this situation is to be immediately resolved,” he said.

Several operators also claimed that the Company had refused to effect retroactive payments for Cola and for overtime work performed by workers. In a media release, Petrotrin’s Ag Corporate Communications manager, George Commissiong, stated that a meeting between workers representatives, the OWTU and Petrotrin executives had taken place yesterday in an effort to resolve the matter. Attending the meeting on behalf of the Company were Petrotrin vice president, refinery and marketing, Kelvin Haranan, Operations manager, Roy Lloyd and Industrial Relations manager, Victor Wright. Haranan reportedly emphasised that refinery operators were crucial to Petrotrin’s operations and that the Company would work assiduously to address all legitimate concerns, in a timely manner.  The Company also stressed the need for goodwill, mutual cooperation and the understanding of all stakeholders in resolving the issues through dialogue in a timely and amicable manner. Another meeting between Company executives and OWTU representatives is scheduled for Friday morning at Beaumont Hill, Pointe-a-Pierre starting at 10 am.