Now workers down tools at Clifton Hill

IN THE midst of the hectic, colourful Carnival season and on “Fantastic Friday,” over 200 workers constructing the 56-inch pipeline at Clifton Hill downed tools in protest, claiming their contractors were negotiating in bad faith with them. The workers claimed issues related to wages, working conditions and benefits were not being dealt with as discussed in a meeting with Bechtel International and API Pipeline Construction Ltd — the sub-contractor for the project. Among those protesting were labourers, operators, welders and technicians. The workers claimed they met with Bechtel and API officials to discuss the outstanding matters on Monday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, workers said, they were told that by yesterday they would receive a reply to the issues raised. However, the workers said when no reply came yesterday, they decided to down tools in protest.

Workers involved in mediation with Bechtel and API included Russell Beddoe, Errol Harris,  Naresh Samaroo and Michael Noel. Yesterday, Beddoe said a group claiming to be from the Salary Review Committee (SRC) who claimed they were sent by API CEO Bill Hosein, visited the scene but left shortly. Beddoe promised work will not restart until the issues were resolved. They contended that labourers received $12.25 per hour when they should be receiving more than $15. The workers added that welders who got $35 per hour and operators, $28.75 per hour, were being underpaid. “We are not giving our labour for slavery wages. We not working until they come to a conclusion. We feel slighted by contractual arrangements and they said they would get back to us in two days,” Beddoe said.

The workers also argued there were no ambulances or medical technicians on the job site and that their contracts did not facilitate benefits or severance payments, if ever such situations arose. A team of policemen from the Point Fortin Police Station, led by Insp Halls and including PCS Corbie, Katwaroo, Francis and WPC Sheppard, visited the scene in an attempt to quell the angry and disgruntled workers. Repeated efforts by Newsday to reach officials of both API and Bechtel were unsuccessful and up to late yesterday, messages left at the former received no responses.