PSA gives Phoenix Park Gas deadline

PUBLIC Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke is calling for immediate action on issues affecting workers at the Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited (PPGPL), which includes an employee appraisal system.

Warning that PPGPL was not Petrotrin, or a sugar cake or toolum factory, Duke called on the company's management to hold discussions with the union to address this and other issues affecting workers.

Duke spoke to the media outside the company's front gates in Pt Lisas, earlier on Sunday.

He gave the company until June 7, to deal with the issue.

Duke said PPGPL's management, in 2017, took a decision to supervise workers' performance appraisals, which resulted in a downgrade for workers.

“No chairman, no president has the right to downgrade an employee's performance appraisal when they are not the direct supervisor."It is way off base. It is wrong and it is a level of curious behaviour," he said. The issue is currently before the Ministry of Labour for concilliation and both parties are expected to meet again in July.

He said the union was open to negotiations to settle the matter, since, according to him, workers were losing out on increases which they would have received on their appraisals.

“We are open to negotiations, and indeed the matter can be solved easily before it goes to court, but you must engage the PSA,” Duke said.

He said it was because of the workers, the company was able to record an after-tax profit of some US$82million in 2017 and US$92 million the following year.

“Do not take the workers lightly. Do not take the PSA lightly. You have until the next two-and-a-half weeks to settle these grievances," he warned.