With some 200 workers possibly facing the axe, president general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union Ancel Roget has threatened to sue state-owned Petrotrin for attempting to close down the company’s medical department without any consultation.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference at OWTU’s Paramount Headquarters at Circular Road, San Fernando, yesterday, Roget said, “Petrotrin has taken the medical plan portfolio and placed it into the hands of (named insurance company) unilaterally without any discussion with the OWTU, the recognised majority union.”
Saying the medical plan is a term and condition for Petrotrin employees, Roget said the company could not unilaterally seal a deal with the insurance company. Advising all workers not to sign to the agreement, Roget said, “The medical plan covers some 6,000 employees of Petrotrin so you can well see what a huge payday that would be for that insurance company. That firm had landed a huge lucrative contract to take over the medical plan portfolio of the Petroleum company.
“It was self-administered prior to that and now they are hustling employees and trying to convince them that the best way to go is this new way.” He said 200 workers were employed in the medical department.
“If they hand over the medical department to the insurance company, they will not need so many workers in the medical department at Petrotrin. This number of workers will definitely be significantly reduced,” Roget said. He also called for an investigation into the alleged sale of the Augustus Long Hospital.
“That may be the arrangement so (named insurance firm) can control the hospital and provide the same that the medical department supposed to be providing to employees,” Roget said. He advised all Petrotrin workers not to sign the agreement with the insurance firm, adding that the OWTU will be filing a lawsuit in due course.
Petrotrin’s communications manager Gillian Friday said yesterday the company will make an official statement on the matter.