OWTU seeks government’s intervention in YARA retrenchment

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OWTU seeks government’s intervention in YARA retrenchment

In light of the planned retrenchment of 15 YARA Trinidad Limited employees, the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) is calling for an urgent meeting with Minister of Labour Stephen Mc Clashie and the management team at YARA.

OWTU executive member Ernesto Kesar, during a press conference on Wednesday, said the union needs Government to get involved in the issue, as the retrenchment is carded for January 2, 2021.

“The union is seeking an urgent intervention by the Minister of Labour to avoid tremendous job losses and hardship to the company, and the workers and their families. The union is ready to meet at any time,” Kesar said.

Notices of retrenchment were issued to the 15 employees on November 18th. The Union responded on November 19th seeking a meeting with YARA.

On December 21 and in accordance with the law, Kesar said, the OWTU wrote to McClashie asking for him to intervene after the union and YARA exchanged letters about the workers who were retrenched. YARA has not responded to the union’s proposal on how to treat with the retrenched workers.

Kesar said the labour ministry e-mailed the OWTU on December 22 to say it had received its letter, but no arrangement had been made for a meeting with McClashie.

He said the clock is ticking and “these workers are going into 2021, unsure, uncertain and definitely distressed, not having a job.”

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