The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) is gearing up for massive protest action today following the firing of three Petrotrin employees from the Port and Marine Department.
Patrick Patterson, Lester St Lewis and Stephen Mohammed were fired for allegedly refusing to perform their duties during an Ebola scare at the department on October 31 during the 11 pm to 7 am shift.
The dismissal letter was signed by Petrotrin’s senior manager of Marketing and Trading Sims Sookhoo and was dated June 29.
Addressing employees outside the Pointe-a-Pierre Roundabout yesterday, president general of the OWTU Ancel Roget said the dismissal was part of a sinister plot to get rid of all employees, opposed to the privatisation of the potentially lucrative ex-barge bunkering business.
He also claimed that moves were afoot to fire 37 more employees.
Calling on his comrades to assist him in mobilising the national citizenry to prevent the Government from selling state-owned assets, Roget said:The country must know what occurred here. The company is using high handed action and tactics to disorganise the union and victimise the workers.
“We must not be scared. They are preparing to sign off a contract that would give away the bunkering activities at Port and Marine to private interests. In 2012, the union raised major concerns when we heard a private contractor from the west would be given a licence to operate bunkering using Petrotrin products.
“They backed off then but now they are moving full scale ahead with that plan,” Roget said.
He said two studies done in 2005 and 2012, showed that Petrotrin could reap billions of dollars in profit if it expanded its bunkering operations by increasing volumes supplied into the vessel using the barge and pipelines. He said a recommendation was made to replace the Barge Marabella and purchase a new double hulled barge. However, that has not been done, Roget said.
He added: “Their strategy is to get rid of you and fire workers for frivolous matters. There is no justification in the dismissals.”
Petrotrin responds
However, in a statement yesterday, Petrotrin’s head of corporate communications Gillian Friday said the decision to dismiss the workers was taken after a six month investigation.
She said workers refused to perform their duties even though a health clearance certificate from the Ministry of Health was issued in October stating “the vessels were found to be free from infection or contamination and not in contravention of the quarantine Act.” Despite this assurance, employees from Petrotrin’s Port and Marine operations refused to berth vessels transporting crude oil originating from offshore gabon during the period October/November 2014 at the Port at Pointe-a-Pierre, causing severe losses.
“At the time of the incident Petrotrin’s senior personnel engaged in dialogue with employees and the OWTU’s Pointe-a-Pierre branch to share information and to address concerns. Additional protective equipment was also offered to the employees to allay any concerns, although not required,” Friday said.
She added: “Despite these efforts employees persisted in their refusal to berth the vessels which forced the company to take alternative measures to berth these vessels and ensure the continuity of operations.
“An investigation was later conducted to determine whether 66 employees had breached their duties.
“After the preliminary investigations 26 employees were exonerated and there was culpability found on the part of the remaining 40 employees.
“The 40 employees were given an opportunity to respond on more than two occasions. After carefully reviewing the facts, the company is now in the process of dispensing appropriate disciplinary sanctions.
“Three employees have been terminated. Of the remaining 37 other sanctions will follow in the form of suspensions and warning letters,” Friday added.
Efforts to contact Minister Kevin Ramnarine about Roget’s allegations proved futile as he was engaged in a meeting.