Just over one week away from Christmas, former temporary Petrotrin workers were once again left out in the cold as the former state-owned entity failed to deliver on its promise that they would receive backpay by yesterday.
The former workers are now concerned that they may not receive the payments before Christmas.
In a telephone interview last evening, Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union executive Ozzi Warwick told the T&T Guardian it was yet another salvo in the callousness being meted out to the workers who had given so much to the company.
“Of course we condemn the fact they didn’t get any backpay. Remember, we were set against the closure in the first place. We warned it would be chaotic, we warned there would be a lot of suffering and these are the things that are coming to pass and it’s unacceptable…very, very unacceptable,” Warwick said.
“This entire thing was inhumane, absolutely inhumane to have people suffer like this for no justifiable reason—and that’s the important part—no justifiable reason.”
One former temporary employee, who only wanted to be named as Sandy, who has worked in the company for the past 12 years, said she believed the holdup on the payments was because the company had not yet been able to complete calculations.
“From what I understand, they are still calculating backpay in salaries admin with about three or four employees. We not sure when we going to get payment. It sounding like it going to be next month,” she said.
“We were looking forward for today, everybody have responsibilities, cost of living is high, Christmas is round the corner - it is a very disappointing situation.”
Another former worker, Kalifa Phillip, said, “I’m one of those who the company says did not qualify for an exit package or ex gratia so all we have to look forward to is the backpay. Just to have money to do normal things—pay off some bills. Christmas is coming…some people would want to do something for their children.”
She said they were initially supposed to collect the backpay on November 30 when the company shut its doors. However, she said since then they had been given different timelines for its collection so she was doubtful they would have received it yesterday.
“My backpay is not something you all giving me a favour you know? That’s something that’s mine, that’s what I worked for,” mother of two, Kim Mahadeo, chimed in.
Mahadeo, 35, had worked for the company for the past 13 years before being sent home in November. The last time she received backpay was around 2011.
“Yes, I didn’t receive severance but I depending on my backpay now because I have to pay my bills until January/February when I can find something to stand up on my foot again…When I have nothing, now what am I supposed to do?”
Another former worker said his backpay was going to be used to go back to school so he could get another job (outside the energy sector) and carry out on his plan to marry his long-time girlfriend and provide for his daughter who is expected to be born in March.