OWTU: Stork retrenchment like knee on workers' necks

WORKERS of Stork Technical Enterprise braved the weather to protest against the retrenchment and temporary layoff of some 51 of their colleagues.

They demonstrated outside the Point Lisas company on Friday morning.

Wearing face masks and carrying placards, the handful of workers maintained physical distancing and dispersed as soon as the reason for their demonstration was communicated to the media.

Executive trustee of the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) Ernesto Kesar, who led the protest, said the company acted in bad faith. He said there had been no prior discussion with the OWTU, the recognised majority union (RMU) for hourly/weekly workers.

“This is the law. In terms of retrenchment we are bound by the Retrenchment and Severance Benefit Act, 1985. The company, in our opinion, has violated section four of that act, because they did not meet and treat in good faith, as there was no proper notice. “

Kesar warned this approach by some employers could only lead to unnecessary industrial unrest and action.

Taking a cue from the worldwide movement resulting from the death of George Floyd under the knee of a policeman, Kesar said this is no different from workers who have been put on the breadline by some TT employers.

“We are saying in TT some employers have their knees on the necks of workers, and workers cannot breathe.

“Employers need to be careful how they are doing this thing (retrenchment). There is a call for national dialogue. We are calling on employers to encourage dialogue, encourage reasoning, to encourage good faith, so we can now reshape our society post-covid19.”

He criticised employers who are using the covid19 pandemic to justify such actions.

“It is unfortunate during this critical and international situation employers are using their opportunity to wrongfully and unlawfully send home workers with impunity. That is wrong. That is not the desired approach. As as a country this pandemic has affected us all, but workers are affected the most.”

He explained that by letter dated April 1, Stork told the union it was sending home 19 permanent workers until further notice. A list of the workers to be laid off was attached.

“Attached to that attachment was another listing of some 32 workers to be retrenched immediately.

"We have a situation where this company seems to be using the covid19 situation to break proper industrial relations practices and principles.”

Kesar said the company was immediately asked to meet and treat with the union in good faith, without success.

He also called for the intervention of the Minister of Labour Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, the Employers Consultative Association and other like-minded organisations.

Notwithstanding the Labour Minister’s role as a mediator, Kesar recalled Baptiste-Primus's instructions to employers to sit with RMUs to discuss how the situation can be mitigated.

“You need to get involved to track down these employers who are taking advantage of the covid19 situation and interfering with the lifeblood and the livelihood of workers and not following your instructions,” he said to the minister.

STORK'S RESPONSE

Stork's country manager Philip Vilain said there was discussion with the union which began in January 2020.

He said the retrenchment of 33 hourly-paid employees was in keeping with Section 4 of the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act.

"These retrenched workers were mainly from our mechanical and scaffolding disciplines where excess capacity was identified. This decision was taken due to a loss of major contracts resulting from significant changes in the oil and gas industry, and a comprehensive review of our operations. The restructuring was necessary to better position our company to achieve its overall business goals and to have a more competitive cost structure for continued business growth and success.

"The covid19 pandemic further impacted the company, and consequently, it became necessary to lay off some employees temporarily. To date, 50 per cent of these persons have been recalled to active duty in alignment with the slow and measured resumption of work by our clients at their sites.

"We continue to manage our workforce based on current covid19 protocols and operational efficiencies.

"The company remains committed to maintaining a strong presence in TT with a streamlined organisation."