Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
Hundreds of T&TEC workers protested in Port-of-Spain, San Fernando, Point Lisas, Arima, and Tobago yesterday, demanding a settlement of salary negotiation, respect for workers and better health and safety practices.
The protests came months after a warning from the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) that the country could experience dark days if T&TEC did not address the workers’ concerns. Yesterday OWTU President General Ancel Roget said the workers might have to walk off the job and will begin to enforce the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act.
“The OSH Act gives workers the right to remove themselves from dangerous environments, from threats to their own lives and limbs, and ensures that workplaces are safe as they conduct work,” Roget said.
In June, Roget warned that workers could not guarantee a reliable electricity supply but still tried to operate safely for the public’s sake. Although the Industrial Relations Act prohibits essential service workers from striking, he said they could not provide an essential service if they were risking their safety.
Outside T&TEC’s San Fernando Distribution Area Office, the protesting workers beat drums, chanted and voiced their frustration over various issues. One of their main concerns is that they have not received a salary increase since 2014.
Roget also pointed out that the workers face dangerous conditions and are using defective equipment, such as faulty voltmeters that could endanger their lives. He said scrap materials are piling up in work yards, transformer oil is leaking at substations, and many of T&TEC’s emergency response vehicles are not roadworthy.
“We have been raising these issues repeatedly at zone safety meetings and high-level meetings, but management fails to act. If this continues, it could lead to fatalities—and that is what we are trying to prevent,” he said.
He said a major concern is T&TEC’s refusal to fill vacancies, which has led to service deficiencies. Backlogs in surveys, damaged appliance reports, and delays in line extensions and transformer installations are becoming more frequent due to material and manpower shortages. In some areas, there are no disconnection crews, and the lack of street light replacements is creating an environment ripe for crime.
Roget also criticised T&TEC for relying heavily on contract workers, including retired employees. He urged retirees to stop accepting contract work.
“You are part of the corrupt problem, and we will soon be identifying the names of those past employees who are now benefiting from a corrupt contract system at T&TEC,” he warned.
The OWTU leader said yesterday’s protests showed the workers’ extreme frustration and will continue until T&TEC addresses their concerns. He urged management to fulfil their duty of care by ensuring a safe work environment.
T&TEC Chairman Romney Thomas said he was aware of the protests and the workers’ health and safety concerns.
“The health and safety of our workers is our number one priority. We will not do anything to jeopardise the health and safety of workers so management has been tasked with looking into some allegations. They will do whatever is necessary to ensure there is no disruption of supply to the nation,” Thomas said.
Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales said T&TEC’s Board of Commissioners had reported to him but declined comment on the union’s claims.
