Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar will meet Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) representatives this morning to discuss Petrotrin workers’ concerns following Government’s decision to close the company’s refinery, starting next week.
The meeting focuses on the OWTU’s “Alternative Plan to Save Petrotrin,” which the Opposition has reviewed.
“The Opposition shares the view that the company can be turned around and the jobs of thousands of workers saved,” a UNC statement said.
The Opposition’s meeting with the OWTU comes days before the October 1 target of the start of the Petrotrin restructuring process.
The jobs of a total of 4,800 permanent and temporary Petrotrin employees will be affected, particularly 1700 refinery jobs which are being eliminated. Petrotrin has said workers can apply for jobs in the restructured entity focusing on Exploration and Production.
Petrotrin chairman Wilfred Espinet recently confirmed October 1 date was a target date but that there won’t be a “hard stop” closure on that date since jobs will be terminated in phases - refinery first. Espinet said the union and company also have to meet tomorrow on the issue.
Yesterday, Opposition officials indicated OWTU officials sought today’s 10.30 am meeting with the Opposition and as the alternative government.
Persad-Bissessar said, “The Rowley-led Government’s stance on Petrotrin and its workers is cruel and the move to shut down the refinery is ill-conceived and will have significant long-term negative effects in South Trinidad, indeed the whole of T&T. The Prime Minister has shown that he doesn’t care about the thousands of workers who will be sent home, or their families and communities and he doesn’t have a viable plan to secure and develop T&T’s energy sector.”
She said the Opposition remains open to “dialogue with all stakeholders interested in ensuring Petrotrin’s stability and sustainability.”