ALNG workers vow to continue striking

DESPITE a number of press advertisements by Bechtel International to woo striking contract workers away from the picket line, workers have vowed to continue industrial action at Atlantic LNG Train IV construction site until demands for increased wages and fringe benefits are agreed to by the project’s main contractor. Addressing workers at the Point Fortin strike camp yesterday, president of the Atlantic LNG protesting workers movement, Ernest Thompson, revealed that a number of workers had been “conned” into signing the new Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU), offered by Bechtel.

However, he said those workers had now returned to the movement and   pledged not to return to work. “Come Monday, there will be no work at the Train IV construction site and you who have been fooled into signing these bogus agreements, let me invite you to come here and show your support for this struggle,” he said. Thompson added: “Point Fortin must be yours on Monday. Come out in full force and bring your drums, bring your music, bring your families and show Bechtel and all others that we are in this for the long haul.” He also slammed as “Bechtel propaganda and outright lies” two full-page ads by the project’s main contractor that appeared in two daily newspapers. “All Bechtel has done is to prey on the minds of the people, because what they have really done is tack on an additional 72 cents to each craft,” he said. He alluded to a flyer that had been printed by the movement which stated that the average labourer would earn a “total weekly compensation of $770.22.” However, according to Bechtel’s paid advertisement, “a labourer will earn at least $5,392 per month at $26.96 per hour.”

The company also provided a breakdown of wages which included 40 hours of straight time, 10 hours of overtime, attendance bonus, safety bonus and fringe benefits which, when calculated, produced a “total weekly compensation of $1348.20.” These figures were disputed by the movement’s flyer which stated that “attendance bonus, safety bonus and fringe benefit are not paid on a weekly basis and therefore should not be considered as part of our weekly salary.” Also addressing the meeting was Oilfields Workers Trade Union, (OWTU), Trinmar branch president, Ancil Roget, who slammed Bechtel for using the union’s collective bargaining agreement with Damus Limited, an energy services company, as the basis for its MOU. “It is unfair, unethical and irresponsible for them to take out OWTU rates and use them in a totally different situation when no discussions were made with either the Union or the workers representatives,” he said.

In a fighting mood, Roget also took aim at statements by Central Bank Governor, Ewart Williams, who said wage increases may “kindle inflationary pressure.” Roget asked whether recent increases in basic food stuff and transportations costs had been due to workers demands for increased wages. Also expressing solidarity was Ray Jones, spokesperson for protesting API Pipeline, who said work on NGC’s 56-inch pipeline would also not resume until an agreement was reached with Bechtel International for improved wages and salaries. Strike action at Atlantic LNG’s Train IV project is set to enter its ninth week.