Lab technicians at Petrojam ordered back to work, union expresses surprise

Trade unionist John Levy is disputing claims that laboratory technicians at Petrojam went on strike yesterday, contending that this suggestion from the state-owned oil refinery was "a stretch of the imagination”.

In a release today, Petrojam stated that a back-to-work order was issued by the Industrial Dispute Tribunal (IDT) last night, October 2, in respect of industrial action that took place on the same day by some of the company’s laboratory technicians.

It noted that technicians are members of the Petroleum Workers Association – an affiliate of the Union of Clerical, Administrative, and Supervisory Employees (UCASE).

“The IDT, having heard from Petrojam’s lawyers, ordered the immediate cessation of industrial action and directed the laboratory technicians scheduled for the 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. shift on Friday, October 3, 2025, to resume duties and all other shifts thereafter,” the release stated.

However, Levy told The Gleaner that “the workers were at work so there was no need to issue a back-to-work”.

He said a meeting was held on Wednesday, October 1, between workers and management where certain underlying tensions and issues were aired.

The following day, he said about “two or three” employees did not show up for work out of a team of about six.

“Some members of staff did not report to work, while the other members of staff continued with their shifts. That is my understanding. So the workers from the same group would have worked an extra shift in some cases,” he said.

But he said the union assured the company that, based on its investigations, employees on the evening shift would be at work, “unless there are legitimate reasons as to why somebody could not be at work, which is quite normal on a day-to-day basis”.

He further stated that the union also wrote to the Ministry of Labour, explaining that yesterday evening.

So, he says he was a little taken aback when he learned that the matter was brought before the IDT yesterday evening, with Petrojam arguing that it had to do with grouses about an overtime proposal.

Levy said the union has requested a meeting for today with the company to discuss the issues affecting the workers, however, he said Petrojam said today is not convenient.

He added that the IDT has scheduled a meeting for January 8, 2026, to address the matter at Petrojam.

“Apparently, all that is urgent is the running of the plant and people to get gas; and the workers' issues [and] concerns were urgent before, but they are no longer urgent,” he said.

- Sashana Small

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