Construction workers involved in the $7.2 billion Solomon Hochoy Highway extension returned to the job yesterday despite calls by the Oilfields Workers Trade Union to brace for continuing days of protest action. Last night union officials and worker representatives were engaged in a meeting with OAS Constructora Ltd, the main contractor in the mammoth project.
The workers are also demanding a meeting with Works Minister Suruj Rambachan with the hope of discussing unfair wage and unsatisfactory safety conditions. While the company has addressed some of the safety concerns, it has refused to raise salaries saying rates are on par with other companies of the construction sector.
OWTU’s Labour Relations Officer Aaron Moyne visited the job site yesterday and urged the workers to band together. However, after hearing that the company agreed to meet, the majority of workers went back to the job site. However, over a dozen trucks which are usually busy, were lined up on a hillside off the Golconda Connector Road. Scores of workers’ vehicles were parked at the job site and work continued apace at the Diamond section.
Moyne was not available up to late yesterday as calls to his cellular phone went unanswered. An official from OWTU’s office said he went to Golconda to meet with workers. However, there was no feedback from him as he was engaged in a meeting.
On Monday, hundreds of workers downed tools after hearing that OAS was not going to raise wages. The company justified its position based on a report from the Employers’ Consultative Association which did a comparative analysis of wages in the construction sector. On April 29, workers also walked off their several job sites to protest issues of low wages, job classifications and expatriate labour on the multi billion dollar project.
Workers resumed duties after agreeing to a request by the contractor for a 15-day moratorium during which the company would conduct a survey of wages paid in the industry and come up with a counter-proposal. Worker representative, Bishnu Ramdhan, said workers will stand together to ensure that they get decent wages and proper safety conditions.
