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nervewrecker wrote:Much thanks.Redman wrote:2 weeks ago..I was told that TECU is stable because their investment portfolio is robust and well diversified,and sufficient in size to meet any call.
The source is a position to know
Fwiw.
novastar1 wrote:Anyone know what went down in with the industrial court hearing?
gastly369 wrote:Why TF AG want a say....
De Dragon wrote:gastly369 wrote:Why TF AG want a say....
What else does he have to do?
OWTU injunction hearing adjourned as State asks for AG to be involved
- by Derek Achong
The Government is attempting to intervene in the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU)'s application for an injunction stopping Petrotrin from starting the process of terminating workers.
Lawyers for the State indicated their intention as the application came up for hearing before a five member panel of the Industrial Court, at the court's headquarters in Port-of-Spain, this morning.
While making brief submissions, Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam, who is leading the Office of Attorney General's legal team, claimed that Government wanted to intervene in the case in order to raise public interest concerns that would arise if the injunctive relief is granted.
"The Government is of the view that for Petrotrin to continue as is, it will be a burden that the country and taxpayers cannot bear," Jairam said.
While Petrotrin's attorney Vanessa Gopaul did not object to the move, it was strongly opposed by Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, who is leading the OWTU's legal team.
Mendes pointed out that the State had no jurisdiction to enter the case as it does not concern a trade dispute between the parties over the terms and conditions of employment for workers.
He stated that it stems from an industrial relations offence, which his client filed against the company for allegedly failing to engage in collective bargaining negotiations with it.
The offence, which is the only criminal charge under the Industrial Relations Act, carries a maximum fine of $4,000.
If eventually granted, the injunction would block Petrotrin from terminating workers, pending the Industrial Court's determination of the industrial relations offence.
Although he admitted that the alleged offence arose out of an ongoing dispute between the company and the union over the closure of the company, he said that the State could only intervene in the event that that matter reaches the court.
Industrial Court president Deborah Thomas-Felix and her colleagues appeared to agree with Mendes' point, however, Jairam agreed to withdraw the State's application before they could rule on it.
Jairam indicated that the State would now make a formal application to be joined as a party to the proceedings.
The issue of the State's application occupied the court for most of the hearing.
In any event, the injunction application would not have been heard during the hearing as lawyers for the OWTU and Petrotrin had previously agreed that it should be adjourned to tomorrow morning as Petrotrin's lead counsel Reginald Armour, SC, is abroad.
Yesterday and today was who wanted to fall in...tmrw is the real dealThe_Honourable wrote:Passed on the highway earlier and saw them by Charlieville on the northbound, turnout was low. Yuh swear somebody carrying a coffin to the graveyard and only a few come to see the actual burial.
Tewarie blames low turnout to union march on workers' dejection
Caroni Central MP, Dr Bhoe Tewarie believes Petrotrin workers are feeling dejected and this is why most of them failed to join the trade union movement in its three-day march from Pointe-a-Pierre to Port-of-Spain.
Even though over 4,700 workers are set to lose their jobs by November, only a few hundred people turned up for the Trade union's "monster march" in Central Trinidad on Thursday.
Speaking to the Guardian at a post-budget forum held at the Couva/ Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce seminar yesterday,
Tewarie said the low turnout was indicative of the feelings of depression being faced by the Petrotrin workers.
"I believe the low participation is because people feel browbeaten. Workers feel it's a done deal and that the Board is proceeding with its business regardless of how they feel so they think they might as well conserve their energy and think about how they will proceed after retrenchment," Tewarie said.
He added, "There is a promise that everybody will be taken care of financially after the retrenchment. Some workers may feel hopeful that they will be rehired so I suspect there are mixed feelings about whether they should participate in the march."
He added, "I don't know how the issue before the Industrial Court will be resolved but whatever happens it will be according to law and this will have to be taken into account. I think that's where we are at this point."
He also said there was no evidence to suggest that workers or the trade unions were behind any incidents of alleged sabotage.
"We have to verify that it is sabotage. I don't want to cast aspersions on the union and the workers but in situations of frustration things like this happen," Tewarie said.
He added that the Petrotrin Board must ensure there is enough security to ensure that their plans are carried out in an environment of peace.
"I don't think it makes sense to sabotage the country or sabotage Petrotrin. I would never support that kind of thing. I believe you have to argue and fight to assert yourself and your position and influence people into supporting your position. I don’t believe in either sabotage, subversion or violence," Tewarie said.
He added that whatever trials are being faced by Petrotrin workers, he hoped that all parties could move peacefully forward.
On Wednesday, Petrotrin issued a statement saying it uncovered three acts of sabotage at its Central Los Bajos Field on Tuesday night.
The company said a fire was started in a chemical shed at North Palo Seco, Tank Battery No.1 (McLeod Battery) in the Central Los Bajos Field.
Investigators found that a two-inch diameter valve on Tank No. 1 was opened and a bull plug removed from Tank No. 2, causing a quantity of oil and water to flow inside the bunded area.
Four test tanks bleed valves were also opened, but the tanks were empty.
The company said all regulatory agencies, including the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs; the Environmental Management Authority (EMA); and the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) were notified.
Source: http://www.cnc3.co.tt/press-release/tew ... -dejection
Espinet: No plan to decommission Petrotrin refinery
by Rosemarie Sant
Petrotrin chairman Wilfred Espinet says there is no plan to decommission the Petrotrin refinery when it ceases operations. Instead, the plant will be mothballed and preserved in a way that it can be easily restarted if someone wants to buy it. The refinery is due to cease operations by the end of this month, one month ahead of the November 30 planned closure of the company.
Speaking to Guardian Media this evening, Espinet said, “There is no plan today, as we speak, to decommission the refinery. The refinery is being shut down and mothballed so that if somebody wants it, it will be there.”
Espinet said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made it clear that “if somebody wants the refinery there would be a period they would look and see if somebody wants the refinery and somebody may want it, so the plant would be mothballed.”
On Wednesday, Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar called on the Environmental Management Authority to indicate whether or not a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) had been granted for the decommissioning and/or closure of the Refinery. In a letter to EMA chairman Nadra Nathai-Gyan, she warned that without satisfying the legal requirements of the EMA, the closure of the refinery can have “catastrophic and cataclysmic effects on the environment which will last well into the future.”
But Espinet yesterday said there was no need for a CEC because “we shutting down the plant and it will be mothballed, how that reach decommissioning? The short answer is we not decommissioning the plant.”
One industry expert explained that mothballing is where the plant is basically stored in such a way "that when you come back to it, it is not a heap of rust and it can start."
In mothballing, he said, "You may not remove all of the hydrocarbons et cetera, but you will fill up engines with oil or anything to stop rust, corrosion and degradation so you are preserving it knowing that in future you want to start again."
Decommissioning, the expert said, means you have no intention to use the plant again and all the hydrocarbons, gases and flammable material will be removed.
Espinet said the refinery will stop production somewhere between the middle and the end of this month.
“It takes some time for it to shut down, it’s not a light switch. There are a number of plants to be shut down, it will be done systematically one after the next. Then they will have to bleed them of all the things they are doing, then clean them out and fill them with some kind of chemical to keep it mothballed in good condition.”
He said in the transition period there would be a “safe shutdown of the plant and the plant would be put into a safe and clean system so that it will be isolated from its running.”
But Espinet could not say how long the plant would remain mothballed, noting that is dependent on the “final decisions made on the plant. That would be dependent on proposals and I imagine the shareholders will make the determination.”
He also said despite the so-called “mother of all marches” being staged by the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union from San Fernando to Port-of-Spain, Petrotrin was still operating as normal.
"People are working and everything is running, the plant is running,” Espinet said.
Espinet said it appeared that the “union is not in sync with the people, I am sorry to say they are on their own agenda.” As of yesterday, there had been no discussion on the termination packages because Espinet said the union had made it “abundantly clear” that they are not discussing the matter.
The OWTU, which represents the majority of the workers, is seeking an injunction from the Industrial Court to try to stop the planned closure of the oil company.
As it now stands, Espinet said the company continues to work towards the November 30 date for the company to cease operations.
Six T&TEC workers suspended
Fallout over ‘day of rest and reflection’...
Anna Ramdass
Six Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) workers have been been handed five-day suspensions without pay for being absent from work on September 7—“the day of rest and reflection”.
Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) executive vice-president Peter Burke said the workers were stopped by police and “locked out” when they arrived at their San Fernando office yesterday. He said the workers, whose duties are in the field and in administration, were told they were suspended without pay for “unauthorised absence” in the week of September 7—when the union held its national day of rest and reflection.
Burke added he understands there is a list of 42 workers in one area where action will also be taken. He said the action to suspend the workers was taken without the workers even receiving suspension letters.
hydroep wrote:Casualties of war...Six T&TEC workers suspended
Fallout over ‘day of rest and reflection’...
Anna Ramdass
Six Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) workers have been been handed five-day suspensions without pay for being absent from work on September 7—“the day of rest and reflection”.
Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) executive vice-president Peter Burke said the workers were stopped by police and “locked out” when they arrived at their San Fernando office yesterday. He said the workers, whose duties are in the field and in administration, were told they were suspended without pay for “unauthorised absence” in the week of September 7—when the union held its national day of rest and reflection.
Burke added he understands there is a list of 42 workers in one area where action will also be taken. He said the action to suspend the workers was taken without the workers even receiving suspension letters.
https://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/local/six-t-tec-workers-suspended/article_ec874bda-c83f-11e8-801e-ff1184fedc8c.html
16 cycles wrote:we getting 98ron as we buying from foreign?
neilsingh100 wrote:Imbert said 1st Oct was last supply of imported crude so refinery will be shutdown in 7-10 days since they will run out of crude to refine. I find it hard to believe but seems like Petrotrin board / government outsmart the OWTU.
The_Honourable wrote:neilsingh100 wrote:Imbert said 1st Oct was last supply of imported crude so refinery will be shutdown in 7-10 days since they will run out of crude to refine. I find it hard to believe but seems like Petrotrin board / government outsmart the OWTU.
Did they? I believe the OWTU didn't actually think they would be challenged. Their antagonistic behavior and the threats to strike had parties staying in their crease for decades. Now the Government via the board decide to challenge them head on, they don't know what to do.
Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:7cac64dd-8793-463b-927a-f6f15674139f.jpg
Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:7cac64dd-8793-463b-927a-f6f15674139f.jpg
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