Talks between both sides broke down Friday and the union said it is planning a strike as early as next week.
OWTU President General Ancel Roget told the state media, CNMG, the company is refusing to move from its wage offer of five per cent. He said the union will not accept that.
"Talks have now broken down and we have an option to serve legal strike notice on them next week and we are well intended to do that," he said.
Roget said the OWTU will serve strike notice to Petrotrin next Tuesday morning. Workers will walk off the job by next Saturday, he said.
"What that means is that all of the services that would be provided by the Petrotrin workers to the country, the country will be denied those services," Roget said.
"Talks have now broken down and we have an option to serve legal strike notice on them next week and we are well intended to do that," he said.
Roget said the OWTU will serve strike notice to Petrotrin next Tuesday morning. Workers will walk off the job by next Saturday, he said.
"What that means is that all of the services that would be provided by the Petrotrin workers to the country, the country will be denied those services," Roget said.
"The workers were not treated fairly and they have come to the point where they are well prepared to take strike action which is well supported and directed by their union," he added.
The OWTU President claimed that the talks were going nowhere even with the intervention of the conciliators of the Labour Ministre.
"This Government and its Minister of Finance and Prime Minister, instructed through its Line Minister, the Minister of Energy, and through the Board of Directors not to go beyond 5% despite the fact that Petrotrin workers turned over a profit over the last financial period for the company of over $5.5 billion. That profit did not come on its own," Roget stated.
In a media statement Petrotrin assured citizens that it has plans in place to ensure a continuous supply of products to the market.
It said Petrotrin and OWTU have signed five Memoranda of Understanding in whch parties agreed that negotiations had reached a critical stage and that the interests of both parties would best be served under conciliation at the Ministry of Labour.
The company's proposals include an offer of a general increase in wages and a much enhanced Housing Allowance. "The total package offered by the company would take its employees further ahead of other workers in the labour market," the company said.
The OWTU President claimed that the talks were going nowhere even with the intervention of the conciliators of the Labour Ministre.
"This Government and its Minister of Finance and Prime Minister, instructed through its Line Minister, the Minister of Energy, and through the Board of Directors not to go beyond 5% despite the fact that Petrotrin workers turned over a profit over the last financial period for the company of over $5.5 billion. That profit did not come on its own," Roget stated.
In a media statement Petrotrin assured citizens that it has plans in place to ensure a continuous supply of products to the market.
It said Petrotrin and OWTU have signed five Memoranda of Understanding in whch parties agreed that negotiations had reached a critical stage and that the interests of both parties would best be served under conciliation at the Ministry of Labour.
The company's proposals include an offer of a general increase in wages and a much enhanced Housing Allowance. "The total package offered by the company would take its employees further ahead of other workers in the labour market," the company said.
No comments:
Post a Comment