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  • 2 years ago
Yara Trinidad Limited workers represented by the Oilfield Workers Trade Union are warning the company of impending strike action if it does not immediately address key safety concerns.

On Thursday morning, OWTU president general Ancel Roget called on the OSH authority and Ministry of Labour to intervene.

The workers claim that there have been increased instances of accident and injury at the plant in recent times due to the increased use of contract workers over permanent staff.

Reporter Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh tells us more.
Transcript
00:00Yara Trinidad Limited workers, represented by the Oilfield Workers Trade Union, are warning
00:05the company of impending strike action if it does not immediately address key safety
00:10concerns.
00:11On Thursday morning, OWTU President-General Ansel Roger called on the OSH Authority and
00:17the Ministry of Labour to intervene.
00:19Workers claim that there have been increased instances of accident and injury at the plant
00:24in recent times due to the increased use of contract workers over permanent staff.
00:29Reporter Cindy Raghabar-Tekasingh has more.
00:33Ammonia Plant Operator Yara Trinidad Limited, situated in the Point Lisas Estate in Kuva,
00:40is currently undergoing maintenance or turnaround work to one of its facilities.
00:45But its permanent workers, through their union, the OWTU, claim the company has been breaching
00:51a signed Memorandum of Understanding made in 2023 following strike action then.
00:57What we have is a situation whereby the management of Yara has decided to replace permanent workers
01:06with contract workers, and in most cases, incompetent contract workers.
01:11As a result, the union says, lives and limbs are put at risk daily.
01:17Just at the beginning of this week, because a crane was unsupervised, we would have had
01:22an accident at the main gate, where it would have bounced the gate.
01:27We have other issues whereby we had three lacerations of fingers.
01:32You have a lot of near misses taking place, bet your bottom dollar if that is not addressed,
01:38what will sit at the top of that is a fatality.
01:41The OWTU represents over 120 employees at the plant, and President-General Ansel Roger
01:48says they will initiate strike action if permanent workers continue to be sidelined and site
01:55safety is not sustained.
01:58You might very well find that if action is not taken to protect jobs and prove that protection
02:06of the jobs and lives and limbs of the trained workers, if that does not happen, we can at
02:12that point, we can escalate this action here at this site.
02:16It's either all of us live and live comfortably and work safely, or nobody work at all.
02:26Following Thursday morning's press briefing, the OWTU delivered a letter requesting a meeting
02:32with the President of Yara Trinidad Limited.
02:36A letter was also sent to the Minister of Labour calling for his intervention in the
02:41matter.
02:43Cindy Raghubar Tika Singh, TV6 News.
02:47In a response this afternoon, Yara Trinidad Limited issued a media statement saying it
02:52reaffirms its dedication to working with their unionised employees, recognised majority union,
02:58the OWTU.
03:00However, Yara says it was surprised by today's gathering at the front gate and noted some
03:04serious inaccuracies in the statements made.
03:07Yara says they remain steadfast in their belief in the principles of sound industrial relations
03:13and the vital importance of constructive dialogue rooted in good faith discussions.
03:18The company, which manages and operates two ammonia plants locally, says their policies
03:23and procedures adhere to strict safety protocols and ethical standards.
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