Caption: Caption: Members of the OWTU held a demonstration on Wednesday. AZP News/Alicia Chamely

By Alicia Chamely

THE Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) is demanding the remaining board members of the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission’s (T&TEC)  immediately step down.

And the union is also calling for the removal of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Carmela Sarjeant.

OWTU members gathered for a midday protest outside of T&TEC’s head office on Frederick Street, Port of Spain on Wednesday led by OWTU’s Second Vice President Reesa Ramlogan-Jodha.

Speaking with AZP before the demonstation, Jodha said upon the change of government administration only two board members resigned, being the chairman Romney Thomas and another member.

She said from the information the union had received, the remaining members of the board had refused to step down.

Jodha said with an incomplete board, the day-to-day operations of the Commission have been severely hindered.

She said,at the management level there is a great sense of “uncertainty” in handling issues facing the workers.

Jodha said due to the instability caused by the incomplete board, management was hesitant to address the issues of filling promotions, defining job titles and renewing contracts.

Speaking on the issue of the renewal of contract, she explained many temporary employee’s contracts were coming close to expiration and management is hesitant to renew these contracts, even though these employees are needed in the field.

Jodha on the issue of the CHRO, Sarjeant was an external hire, who had held the position for the two years.

She said it was the opinion of both the union and the employees that Sarjeant’s actions involving workers were regressive rather than progressive.

Jodha said Sarjeant had continually refused to meet with the union on multiple occasions and no longer replied to any correspondence with them.

She said the “straw that broke the camel’s back” was Sarjeant’s decisions to alter the terms and conditions employee’s health plan without any union consultation.

Regarding the demonstration, Jodha said, “The purpose of this activity is not to be disruptive today, it is simply to create that level of awareness that the workers are not satisfied and we intend coming out of this that the voices of the workers will not be taken for granted.”

She added, “But if indeed it is taken for granted, then what will have to happen is the workers themselves would have to intervene”

Jodha said should nothing be done, further directives will be given by the union on Labour Day.