National Strike updates/ watch/ News

[Redman]

The distribution network is at its limits under normal conditions.
There are not enough gas stations in the right places

Therefore any issue whether at NP,OWTU Petrotrin, on the roads,with the transport contractors has a magnified effect at the pump.

So there has not been a strike -yet.
But NP distribution being as poorly managed as it is falls apart easily-South and out lying stations feel it first-I know of stations that have no fuel for days now.

NP also fills their Company owned stations first.

Unipets distribution is better run but still limited to the fill point in the PaP bond.

So when OWTU has meetings or inspects the trucks and work to rule(Trinidad is the only place where working by the rules SLOWS things down) you will get this kinda pressure

OWTU has notified Petrotrin that they intend to strike..


Later

[~Vēġó~]

2 tankers delivered to unipet, rio claro normal normal dey....

[nervewrecker]

fyzo have 3 gas stations & panic bying didnt start till the after work crew come home. I was home early, casually proceeded to the unipet station & fill up without any problem. I had a 1/4 tank, was gonna full on richmond st this morning but as I had the time I filled yesterday.

[turbosingh]

From since 2pm the cross done crazy!

[crazybalhead]

Had many many trucks filling up by NP this morning. Last night was fairly easy to get gyas too.

[r3iXmann]

Had many many trucks filling up by NP this morning. Last night was fairly easy to get gyas too.

medford was madness last night... i drove past there around 8ish

[crazybalhead]

I got on the corner of maravaul road. Had to wait on one car.

[uncle sam]

I could be late but wharf men on strike again? level traffic on Wrightson Rd since yesterday morning.. Level trucks line up the left lane from the stadium to licensing.

[Redman]

And OWTU just served notice of a strike-what happens when the strike starts.

The minister stated that there are sufficient reserves AT PETROTRIN and that they can import if necessary.
This blatantly ignores the weak link-distribution

OWTU is very knowledgeable on the supply chain and having fuels at the bonds or on ships coming in does nothing for the motoring public-

This is just the beginning.

Later

[crazybalhead]

Now reading comments on the express. People not happy with this at all. Fed up of the blackmail.

I THINK I heard that petrotrin workers want a 75% increase, can someone confirm that for me?

[Dizzy28]

Now reading comments on the express. People not happy with this at all. Fed up of the blackmail.

I THINK I heard that petrotrin workers want a 75% increase, can someone confirm that for me?

Has Petrotrin declared profits for the last 3 years??

[pete]

They need to reduce the staff by 75%.

[SR]

yup at least they have the figure correct its just the application of it

and they need to start from the top as well too

[rfari]

if anybody getting hell for fuel in the east, Unipet in cumuto is usually empty in situations like these

[streetbeastINC.]

unipet cumuto empty? they ran out of fuel???? i highly doubt that

[rfari]

unipet cumuto empty? they ran out of fuel???? i highly doubt that

when i say empty, i mean hardly any vehicles fulling up. fuel always running there

[ru$$ell]

pressure for diesel in south,cant seem to get anywhere,i usually have my reserve in my storage tank,but didnt full that in a while now.

[nigel1977]

They start at 75% and allow for low balling and fight down. Much like what happens on the classifieds.

[~Vēġó~]

no no no... that 75% is not a salary hike to that value but rather that 75% of their demands have already been agreed to/upon...

[InsanityReigns]

WRONG^^^ they are asking for 75% over a three year period. 25% x 3

[Country_Bookie]

Heard abt a demand by OWTU for a 75% wage increase on the radio but I'm not seeing it on the express article. Does talk about reaching agreement on 75% of the key items being negotiated though.

McLeod bids to make peace at Petrotrin
By Camille Bethel camille.bethel@trinidadexpress.com

Story Created: Feb 14, 2012 at 12:58 AM ECT

(Story Updated: Feb 14, 2012 at 12:58 AM ECT )

LABOUR Minister Errol McLeod has taken the 11th hour decision to meet with the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union and Petrotrin, in an effort to avoid strike action that could lead to a crippling fuel shortage.

In a press statement yesterday McLeod invited top executives of the union and company to meet with him at the Ministry's office in San Fernando today, "in an attempt to bring the parties back to the negotiating table in order to avert industrial strike action at the Production and Refining Operations at Petrotrin."

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. The union, however, still intends to deliver its notice of strike action to Petrotin management this morning at the company's Pointe-a-Pierre office.

Meanwhile, both Petrotrin and National Petroleum (NP) have assured citizens there will be no fuel shortage.

Last Friday negotiations broke down after the OWTU rejected Petrotrin's proposals for a five per cent salary increase, during a conciliation meeting held at the Labour Ministry in San Fernando.

President general of the OWTU Ancel Roget said then that only McLeod's intervention could prevent the union from serving strike notice on Petrotrin today.

McLeod, the former president general of the OWTU, had previously met with both parties last Wednesday.

McLeod stated yesterday that it would be premature for the negotiating team to have abandoned the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the industrial relations dispute, after having only two meetings last week.

In a press release, Petrotrin stated that the breakdown in negotiations was regrettable.

"By Tuesday 2012 January 3, bilateral agreement was reached on over 75 per cent of the key items in the five different collective agreements. As a consequence, Petrotrin and OWTU signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) in which parties agreed that negotiations had reached a critical stage and that the interests of both parties would best be served under conciliation at the Ministry of Labour. This development reflected a genuine commitment by both parties to resolve the issues," Petrotrin stated.

Petrotrin stated that its proposals include a general increase in wages and a much enhanced housing allowance that would ultimately benefit all employees.

"The total package being offered by the company would take its employees further ahead of other workers in the labour market," Petrotrin stated.

The company also sought to "reassure the national community that plans are in place to ensure a continuous supply of products to the market".

Yesterday both the Ministry of Energy and the National Petroleum Marketing Company Ltd (NP) reassured the public that there was no fuel issue.

"There is no shortage of fuel throughout the service station network. NP continues to deliver fuel and assures the travelling public that supplies are being made to all its service stations," a release stated.

[Greypatch]

Cannot understand why ppl PANIC buy fuel...operate normal nah man stupezz

[ru$$ell]

Cannot understand why ppl PANIC buy fuel...operate normal nah man stupezz

patch,is trini's yuh dealing with,you expect anything less?

[TriP]

Point Fortin at round a about had no line up for gas..around 12 noon
After La Brea..heading back to Sando..gas station on right..was full of cars..around 1pm
The 2 gas stations at Cross-Crossing in Sando..was jam pack causing traffic to backup midway on bypass to Gulf Chitty @ 1.30pm
Rushworth St. gas station off the bypass was in a 'mess' causing traffic to backup on the bypass from Pleasantville Traffic lights..around 230pm today..

[Aaron 2NR]

From debe to marabella is out of diesel since lunch time today....ppl and their panic buying

[pete]

Gas light came on on my way home, waited for about 20 mins in the line at the gas station behind people putting like $20 before I could fill up. That is why the lines are long. Stupid people running to the gas station any time the needle moves from F.

[S_2NR]

Full up in valsayn normal normal today. Hardly any line

[ado15mk3]

Point Fortin at round a about had no line up for gas..around 12 noon
After La Brea..heading back to Sando..gas station on right..was full of cars..around 1pm
The 2 gas stations at Cross-Crossing in Sando..was jam pack causing traffic to backup midway on bypass to Gulf Chitty @ 1.30pm
Rushworth St. gas station off the bypass was in a 'mess' causing traffic to backup on the bypass from Pleasantville Traffic lights..around 230pm today..

full up on d cross just after 12 easy peasy.
panic buying ftw!

[SmokeyGTi]

filled up last night in montrose..
diesel ftw!

[redmanjp]

k