Oil workers back on the job

A second protest was planned for yesterday morning, but the company held discussions with the workers’ representatives yesterday morning.

Operations at Pointe-a-Pierre and at all the company’s installations ground to a halt on Wednesday morning after workers downed tools to protest Petrotrin’s failure to settle a number of outstanding grievances.

They included health and safety matters, outstanding salary negotiations and merit increases.

The facilities affected by Wednesday’s protest action included the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery, petroleum and gas bond distribution depot; Trinmar Marine base and exploration and production installations in Santa Flora, Guayaguayare, Forest Reserve and Penal.

Workers resumed duties shortly after the protest ended lunchtime on Wednesday. Representatives of the Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU) and Petrotrin executives, met and discussed the issues.

The OWTU’s team was led by president-general Errol McLeod while Neil Derrick led Petrotrin’s industrial team.