Public Utilities Minister concerned about safety of T&TEC workers

PUBLIC Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales said he would be willing to meet with the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) on the issue of workers' safety with respect to covid19 at the TT Electricity Commission (T&TEC).

He said he did not know if the OWTU had made a formal approach to the ministry regarding concerns they might have for the safety of their members at T&TEC.

In a text message to Newsday, Gonzales said, “As the line minister, I am not averse to meeting with the union or any stakeholder regarding the safety of workers. However, I will be guided by the Ministry of Health and the health professionals in these discussions.”

He said he would also request a brief/update from TTEC on the matter.

The union has accused the utility company of flouting the covid19 guidelines and of putting their members at risk.

OWTU executive vice president Peter Burke, who has responsibility for T&TEC, said there was a lack of communication between management and the union about the rate of covid19 infections and treatment of other exposed workers.

The union's branch president for T&TEC Port of Spain, Kevin Julien, said the commission was not adhering to government’s instructions to stagger workers' shifts.

Julien said the commission has breached a two-week rotation system which was agreed to and signed off between management and the union on March 25. That matter is now before the Industrial Court.

At a news conference at OWTU’s Paramount Building, San Fernando on Saturday morning, Julien, who joined Burke and chairman of the T&TEC Estate Police Association (EPA) Richard Roopnarine, said the full workforce is out on duty.

He said workers want to provide a safe and reliable supply of electricity to ensure the economy is moving upwards.

However, Julien said with the community spread full-blown the work force must be rotated to maintain physical distancing and lower the risk of exposure.

Julien claimed that at least one worker had tested positive but there had been no contact tracing of other employees to date.

Roopnarine also accused T&TEC of treating his members “like second-class employees in the organisation.”

He said withholding information relative to those infected and in self-quarantine did not allow the union's members to adequately protect themselves.

He said the EPA had approached management for a meeting but has had no response to date.

He said the T&TEC police were the first contact with the public, yet, “We receive different treatment with respect to the sanitisation of facilities and provision of masks. Comrade Burke explained the provision for their workers is not adequate, I am afraid the provision for security staff is worse.”