RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Energy Minister Franklin Khan is remaining mum on why the newly-formed state-owned Heritage Petroleum Company Limited, one of two new entities replacing Petrotrin, shares a similar name as a petroleum company operating in the United States.
Checks by Guardian Media revealed that Heritage Petroleum LLC (Limited Liability Company) operates as one of the largest independent petroleum distributors in southern Indiana.
Information from its website states that it offers a "range of services including fuel management and SMARTank monitoring, Pacific Pride commercial fuelling, pipeline services, and emergency fuel management services".
It operates as a "full-service fuel transporter and provider of fuel products, including petroleum fuels and alternative fuels, oils, and lubricants. It also offers the Oil Analysis Program and has been in existence for more than 50 years."
An email was sent to the Heritage Petroleum LLC asking if there was any affiliation with the newly-formed Heritage Petroleum Company Limited in T&T. However, no response was forthcoming.
Several attempts were made to contact Khan on his cellular phone yesterday to get answers but the calls went unanswered. A Whatsapp message was sent to Khan asking the location and date of the launch of the two new companies which will replace Petrotrin, but Khan responded, "My understanding is that there is no launch today."
The Sunday Guardian then asked whether 3,500 casual workers will get retrenchment packages or financial assistance to deal with the job losses, but Khan never responded to the Whatsapp message although it was read. He also declined to say how many workers will be rehired by the Heritage Petroleum Company Ltd and the Paria Fuel Trading Company. The minister also declined to say whether it was coincidental that the Heritage Petroleum Company had the same name as the US-based company.
'Shutdown scenario was unprecedented'
During an interview with CNC3's Morning Brew on Friday, head of the Transition Office at Petrotrin Lisa Ali said the new companies were supposed to be launched yesterday. She also promised that all workers will be treated in a fair and humane manner. Asked to explain, Ali said the termination process takes into account four factors.
"The first is that all employees must be treated fairly, secondly there is no compromise to Health, Safety, and Environmental Standards. Thirdly, we must ensure continuity of fuel supplies and finally a safe and efficient shutdown of the refinery," she revealed.
Saying the shutdown scenario was unprecedented, Ali said Petrotrin must ensure that all termination packages are done in accordance with the law and the collective bargaining agreement.
"In structuring the termination packages, we took into consideration what is required by law in the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act and what is in the collective bargaining process," Ali explained.
She added that employees’ years of service bonuses and Cost of Living Allowances are factored into the severance formula in each of the nine bargaining units before termination packages are issued.
"There is no option whether you accept or not," Ali said.
Asked what workers were most concerned about, Ali responded, "The whole uncertainty over the past two or three weeks has made employees concerned about how they will be treated."
More than 1,000 employees received counselling
She said all termination letters will be issued by October 15 giving workers 45 days’ notice of termination.
This means their last day of work as a Petrotrin employee will be November 30.
She also noted that recruitment advertisements will be issued from today (Sunday) and will run from seven to 14 days.
She also said the start-up date for the new companies will be December 1.
To help workers to cope, Ali said the Employee Assistance Programme has been ramped up. She said more than 1,000 employees have received counselling over the past six weeks and financial management sessions are being held so workers will be able to efficiently utilise their severance monies.
"We have conducted 18 financial management sessions attended by over 400 employees," Ali said.
She noted that as the realisation of the end of Petrotrin dawns, more employees are stepping forward to take advantage of the sessions, which will continue over the next six months.
Ali noted that the $2 billion severance payment exercise will be completed by the end of November. She said while workers will undergo a period of grief, it was important to accept change and to prepare themselves to accept the new opportunities ahead.