Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Protests over planned restructuring and reassignment of staff at T&TEC’s South Distribution Centre in San Fernando ended when the issues were resolved yesterday.
In a statement late yesterday, T&TEC officials expressed disappointment at the way the issue was ventilated, describing the workers’ actions as “contrary to the Industrial Relations Act.” The company said it will give “careful consideration as to whether any further measures should be implemented to address the actions that were taken.”
“All crews have been deployed to conduct routine work and respond to emergencies as required. Employees have returned to work and the situation has returned to normal,” the statement added.
Workers accompanied by a lively rhythm section staged a protest outside the T&TEC compound over the proposed restructuring of staff. They were led by Christopher Peters, Branch Secretary of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union, who denounced the move that would see workers from San Fernando relocated to Point Fortin and Rio Claro.
Peters emphasised that this decision was disrupting the lives of 2,800 employees and accused T&TEC’s management of being inconsiderate.
“We are out here because we are left with no choice,” he declared. “We have been serving the public without any issues, but for some reason, since the OPR (the Office of Procurement Regulation) came in, we’re having problems getting our vehicles repaired. We’re having industrial relations issues. Right now they are trying to do a restructuring. It has not been acceptable to the workers, and they are having issues.”
Peters said efforts were made to have dialogue with management but they “just went ahead without having discussions and placed people in various areas and instructed them that they have to go.”
He added: “These are serious issues. We had a meeting and they said they would have individual interviews with them to see if they could accommodate these workers. This has not been done thus far.”
Peters said tensions among workers had reached boiling point.
“Today they are supposed to implement this shift change, but as you can see, the workers are incensed. They have reached their limits. We are emergency workers, maintenance workers, construction, and clerical workers. We are seeing a lot of challenges with the way this is being managed.”
Peters was asked whether there was a possibility of electricity disruptions if the grievances remained unaddressed.
“I can’t speak about that or say if there will be disruptions. We have been out here for two weeks between 6 am and 7 am, but we are not being heard, so we are now forced to resort to this,” he said.
Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales said he was not aware of a T&TEC restructuring plan.
“Did the union produce evidence of this? If they are making the assertion, should they not be asked to submit proof of what they are saying?” he asked.
“T&TEC, like all other public bodies, continues to work closely with the OPR to ensure that procurement rules are complied with. If those rules are breached, then it is the same union that will call for management to be sanctioned or removed.”
Gonzales said the assignment of staff is a matter for the management of T&TEC.
“There is no place for the minister to get involved in management’s business,” he said.