SASCHA WILSON
Frustrated workers protested at the front gates of CEMEX/Trinidad Cement Ltd in Claxton Bay this morning, for outstanding payments as well as other issues.
Armed with placards, the workers were upset over what they say is the disrespectful way that they are being treated by management. They vowed to continue protesting until their issues are settled.
Oilfield Workers Trade Union's branch president Kevin Arjoon said a significant number of workers across all work categories, as well as retirees, are affected.
"The frustration is mainly by the lack of respect and also the lack of payment—for maybe close to eight years—no payment of COLA. They not honouring the collective agreement by paying the gains share so they are breaching the collective agreement,” he said.
“They are unilaterally interfering with people's pension plans, and they have incorrectly calculated people's pensions,” he noted. “The retirees are here to demonstrate that level of frustration because most of them have worked over 40 years in this company and now that they are ready to leave, they are frustrated with what is happening. Some of the members are being unilaterally removed from the pension plan."
Noting that the last time the union met with management was on March 31, Arjoon said financial documents were supposed to have been provided to the union to calculate the money owed to the workers.
He said, to date, the company has failed to furnish the documents, which in the past were provided to the union.
He said without the documents they cannot proceed with the negotiations.
Lamenting that workers were dying without collecting their money, Arjoon reported that in the past three months, eight workers have died.
He also pointed to the fact that during the COVID-19 pandemic, workers continued working, resulting in the company making a significant profit, and it is unfair that workers have to protest for what is owed to them.
"We’re hoping that the management is responsible enough to meet with us and sort out these issues… bring these things to a close,” he said.
“Give us the financials, allow the union to do what it has to do and bring settlement to these workers. It is too long. Eight years," he added.
Worker Akini Solomon accused management of playing games with the workers' lives and monies:
"They keep telling us they have no money but every other month you’re seeing a brand new $500,000 vehicle, hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses. They’re having parties in fancy hotels for hundreds of thousands of dollars and they’re telling us they have no money. So where are these monies coming from?"
Solomon also complained that the company has been interfering with workers’ medical and pension plans.
Guardian Media reached out to the company but is still awaiting a response.