The negotiations taking place are for the workers of the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago who risk life and limb, working in varying dangerous conditions, in sun or rain, to guarantee a reliable supply of fuel to the travelling public. It is essential that we not forget that the country's economy is based on products made possible by the tireless efforts of these very same workers.
The fact is, there are two periods of negotiations, and when we consider 2011 to 2014 where many other workers received a deserved increase, the oil workers were cast aside, and abandoned out in the cold, for no other reason than the fact that their union took a stand for T&T against corruption, nepotism, poor governance, and mismanagement of state enterprises.
Due to these said workers, Petrotrin, during the period of 2011 to 2014 contributed $12.4 billion to the economy of T&T, as officially reported in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative's (EITI) reports of 2011, 2012 and 2013.
So how is it justifiable to ask these workers, who made such an immense contribution to the economy, which helped to build roads, schools, provide health care and pay for transfers and subsidies, to accept 0-0-0?
The Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), demanded ten per cent for the period 2011 to 2014, and was offered 0-0-0- by the Company.
Other workers were given 14 per cent for this same period.
Subsequently, the period 2011 to 2014 was sent to court for determination.
The union is now repeating its demand of ten per cent for the current period 2014 to 2017, for which the company is still offering 0-0-0, making that a total offer of 0-0-0-0-0-0 for six years.
Let me also point out that as far back as 2011, the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) led by Comrade Ancel Roget, presented to the People's Partnership government a plan for the restructuring of Petrotrin, and an implementation plan to increase production. This same plan, under a pilot project, produced an additional four thousand barrels of oil per day. The plan was squashed.
Therefore, both these union initiatives to improve the fortunes of Petrotrin were shut down by the People's Partnership government.
Presentations of these union initiatives were again made to the current government, and the union and the country are yet to hear a proper response.
Does this not sound like an institution of some 80 years' experience attempting to show past and current administrations that the OWTU indeed has a plan to turn around Petrotrin to make an even greater contribution to the economy?
For several years the union has been vociferous in pointing out the poor leadership, poor management, corruption and nepotism at Petrotrin. The OWTU has highlighted to the national public over and over that these issues at Petrotrin were hurting the company and the economy even before the Company began recording any so-called losses.
It must be clear that it cannot be business as usual at this major state enterprise.
The union's conscious plea for radical change to be made to the Company to increase production has continued to be ignored by the leadership of Petrotrin and politicians, to the detriment of Petrotrin.
Therefore, if it takes a strike by the workers in the productive sector of the economy to wake up the country, and agitate the politicians into comprehending that the "business-as-usual" attitude of Petrotrin's management and leadership will be detrimental to Petrotrin and the country, then the short-term pain of a strike will be worth the long-term gain of a re-energised, re-vitalised, and reinvigorated company under new visionary leadership.
It is a well-noted fact that at a time when an economy is contracting, growth is what is required to bring a country out of its economic challenges. The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) developed LEAP (Labour's Economic Alternative Plan) as a response to the economic challenges and an alternative to neoliberalism and austerity.
The LEAP was presented to the National Tri-Partite Advisory Council, the Economic Advisory Council, and the Minister of Finance, and akin to the Petrotrin presentations, we are yet to hear a response from the government.
In an energy-based economy this growth must be driven by increased oil and gas production.
It is crucial that we grow out of this crisis, but to do so we need a new attitude and leadership at the country's flagship state enterprise. The workers at Petrotrin are ready for radical change at the top, but the question is, are the politicians?
 
Ozzi Warwick Research Officer, OWTU General Secretary, JTUM
It must be clear that it cannot be business as usual at this major state enterprise. The union's conscious plea for radical change to be made to the company to increase production has continued to be ignored by the leadership of Petrotrin and politicians, to the detriment of Petrotrin.