The Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) is currently preparing a proposal to submit to the owners of Flavorite Foods Ltd on the steps that can be taken to ensure the company's return to viability before year's end.
It is hoped the recommendations will be presented to the owners by Monday.
OWTU's Second Vice President, Sati Gajadhar-Innis expressed hope that the proposal will assure the continued employment of the 120 weekly and monthly paid employees whose livelihoods are under threat.
Stone Street Capital which is chaired by businessman and former CL Financial executive Andre Monteil, is the owner of Flavorite Foods Ltd.
Following a two-hour meeting on Wednesday during which Monteil was present, Gajadhar-Innis said an agreement was reached whereby monies were released to satisfy outstanding claims by monthly paid staff who had been without salaries for some time.
She said the owners were adamant about changing the weekly salary schedule, but the union was opposed to this.
She questioned, "If they cannot pay the monthly paid workers on time, how can they change the pay schedule for the weekly paid workers? Won't they be experiencing the same setbacks and now have more people who would not be receiving a salary on time?"
Agreeing that both the owners and union were concerned about the company's operations moving forward, Gajadhar-Innis said if the recommendations are rejected, "The union would take this to mean that the company wants to fail and close down."
Alarmed that deductions were made from the workers salaries with respect to union dues and the medical plan, Gajadhar-Innis said it remained unclear up to yesterday whether or not the monies had been paid to the respective entities it was meant for.
She said similar concerns had been raised with the payment of NIS and BIR contributions as well.
Reaffirming the union's commitment to work with the company to ensure no one is retrenched, Gajadhar-Innis said the proposal would be in effect until the end of the year, following which it is hoped that a long-term plan of action would be formulated.
In March, Monteil confirmed that lack of access to foreign exchange was taking a toll the company's ability to procure raw material imports.
This was in response to customers taking to social media to voice their disappointment about the lack of ice-cream on local grocery shelves.
Efforts to reach Chief Executive Officer Louis Stefan Monteil proved futile as he was out of office.
