The acquisition of Trinidad Cement Limited by (TCL) Mexican cement giant, Cemex, could be a possibility if striking workers "continue to destroy TCL with strike and violence." So said TCL's quarry manager, Taradath Ramdhanie, who confirmed that TCL has not succeeded in returning power to its Mayo facility. He explained that slurry basins have been turned down since last week, after striking workers prevented managers from turning on power in the plant.
"I think they feel that Mayo is such an important part of the cement production process that if they strangle the Mayo facility, they will stop production of cement at Claxton Bay, but this is not the case," Ramdhanie said in an interview on Saturday. He added that several years ago Cemex tried to acquire TCL and its subsidiaries but the company remained in the hands of local interests.
"I don't think acquisition by Cemex is an issue right now but it definitely is an option that is available to us," Ramdhanie said. He added: "A plant like ours does not need so many workers and Cemex will have the right to hire and fire as they see fit. They will streamline operations and many people who are currently employed will have to go home," Ramdhanie revealed.
Meanwhile, TCL's general manager, Satnarine Bachew spent most of the day in meetings. He said the company had proof that the OWTU was behind the violent attacks at the company. "We have recorded telephone conversations which the police are now investigating. We had many incidents of violence, many tyres were punctured and on Wednesday six workers were almost held hostage in the plant while the strikers burnt tyres outside the gates."
Bachew insisted that TCL will not negotiate with terrorists. He also revealed that TCL discharged a shipment of 849 tonnes of cement received from its subsidiary in Barbados, Arawak Cement Co. Ltd, as part of its commitment to maintaining a steady supply of product to the local market during industrial action at the company.
The 571 slings of bagged cement (35 bags per sling) arrived yesterday via the vessel, Munie Chandra, which was initially intended to dock at the company's Claxton Bay port but had to be diverted to a harbour in Port-of-Spain. Bachew also said that more than 10,500 metric tonnes of cement is scheduled to arrive from TCL's sister companies in Barbados and Jamaica between now and the end of March.
He added that cancellation of the conciliation talks with Labour Minister, Errol McLeod was not meant as disrespect, adding that TCL will resume negotiations when the OWTU could demonstrate "its ability to control militant members."
Bachew also added that the acts of violence are being perpetrated by members of the OWTU's local branch. Vice-president of the OWTU's Mayo branch, Earle Fahay, declined to give a response to Bachew's statements saying, "I am not speaking to the media today." President general of the OWTU, Ancel Roget, did not answer his cellphone. However, in a radio interview, Roget said he had no problem with TCL's decision to stop conciliatory talks.
"It's no love lost. We didn't ask for conciliation in the first place. It was TCL who suggested conciliation and it was recommended to us that we should start with such talks and we did," Roget said. He called on his members to remain calm. Roget also said he took umbrage with Bachew's labelling of TCL workers as terrorists.
"They have angered workers by cutting off electricity to the strike camp and cutting off water to the villagers. It is them who are terrorists. They have been threatening workers and saying that they will lose their jobs if they don't return to work," Roget alleged.
He added that the union will keep up the struggle.