INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS consultant for energy services company AdON Construction Courtney McNish believes that offshore workers’ recent promises to take industrial action in the form of sickouts are merely idle threats by employees to “extort” higher wages from their employers.

He made that comment as employees doubled down on their intention to take action in the face of what they called poor wages and working conditions at the Teak, Samaan and Poui (TSP) fields owned by Perenco TT.

Speaking to Newsday on July 20, McNish said, “A sickout or a work-to-rule is considered illegal industrial action. One for which an employer could terminate your services. Why, therefore, would you give prior notice that you intend to sickout?