Petrotrin workers back on the job

DELIVERIES of gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products resumed yesterday after workers at State-owned oil company, Petrotrin returned to work. The workers downed tools last Friday morning citing unsafe health and safety conditions. Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU)  vice-president, Errol A McLeod, said the workers were on “standby” for further protest action if the company failed to meet with them to discuss several grievances.

These include health and safety conditions at the distribution bond, non-payment of variable pay and the company’s failure to fill several vacancies. “Workers are back out to work and we are waiting for Petrotrin to respond to the issues that were raised,” McLeod said. He said Petrotrin had started remedial work at the distribution bond and, accompanied by OWTU representatives, had conducted site inspections at the bond and marine department. “We are hopeful that by Monday or Tuesday, the company will be meeting with the union to discuss the matters raised by workers,” he said. On Friday morning, some 600 workers staged a noisy demonstration at the Pointe-a-Pierre roundabout, disrupting deliveries of gasoline and other products.