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The Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) is demanding that the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and the Finance Minister step aside, and allow the union to engage in fair negotiations with Napet Investment Ltd, a subsidiary of National Petroleum Marketing Co Ltd (NP).

Speaking to members of the media at a protest outside the CPO’s office on Alexandria Street, St Clair on March 11, OWTU first vice president Sati Gajadhar Inniss said the minister and CPO had been “interfering” in the negotiations since 2018, and hampering the process to the detriment of the workers.

Inniss said since the union submitted its proposals to the company, Napet said it was waiting for a remit from the CPO, which turned out to be two per cent over six years. But she said Napet’s management indicated it could settle negotiations at a higher percentage wage increase than was suggested by the CPO.