The police riot squad was called out to restrain workers yesterday as they attempted to prevent High Court marshals from executing a court order to seize roughly $4 million in assets from OAS Construtora at its Golconda headquarters.
Workers who have been protesting since last Thursday for unpaid salaries sat on the ground with their backs against the closed gates and with their arms interlocked, singing union songs. Other workers stood under a tent constructed in front of the gate. Two barricades, consisting of tyres and wood, were also set up in front of the entrance.
In the end, however, no one was arrested and the machines were seized and carted off the compound. T&T Guardian was told a shipping company had filed an injunction in the High Court to recover millions owed to it by the Brazilian construction firm for work done on the $7.2 billion Solomon Hochoy Highway extension from San Fernando to Point Fortin.
The contractor is among 60-odd local contractors who are owed US$40 million from OAS for work done on the highway.
The T&T Guardian was told around 8 am two court marshals and an adjuster arrived at the headquarters to serve the order. Six trucks also came to transport the seized equipment, including a bulldozer, excavator and overloaders, out of the compound but the workers prevented them from entering it.
When the police, who included Guard and Emergency Branch and Southern Division Task Force officers, arrived on the scene, Ag Sgt Beckles spoke with the workers, asking them to move and allow good sense to prevail.
“I understand your predicament but you all have to understand I must operate under instructions from the court,” the officer said. Dressed in their riot gear, the officers took up position but they did not approach the workers at that time.
Explaining the situation, worker Jameel Thomas, an OWTU representative, read from a letter, dated February 22, to the workers from OAS in which it promised to uphold the rights of the workers and union. The rights, the letter stated, included severance, back pay, promotional issues and retroactive appraisal.
In addition, it promised to continue to pay the workers’ salary until the termination of the labour relations. He said over 1,000 workers were affected.
“We understand the police have to carry out their instructions with regard to the injunctions made and we are just simply trying to get what is ours,” Thomas said. He called on the Government to intervene and take action.
Thomas and another worker were then allowed onto the compound where he met with the court marshals and an OAS director.
When Thomas returned he explained to the workers the marshals had a court order and any action to prevent the seizure of the equipment would be illegal. He told them they had a choice to move or be arrested.
There was some hesitation but eventually the workers cleared the way, the police moved the barricades and the tent and formed a shield blocking off the workers as the trucks drove into the compound to collect the equipment. Thomas told reporters the OAS director again assured him that they would be paid.