Sickout At WIOC

ST JOHN’S, Antigua : Fourteen employees from the Marketing Department of West Indies Oil Company called in sick yesterday, halting the company’s distribution of cooking gas and slowing down operations in other departments.

The exact reason (s) for the sickout is not yet known, however the bargaining agent, Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) confirmed that several proposals are before the management for their consideration.

“We first have to determine whether the reported illnesses have any direct relation to whatever the issues may be,” said Ralph Potter of AT&LU.

The matters before management are proposals for salary increases, allowances, and pensions among other staff issues.

Company sources told OBSERVER Media that staff are of the view that their concerns which are well known to management are being ignored.

The absence of the employees on Thursday meant that operations took time to get off the ground.

Tankers left their stations late and operations were delayed throughout the day.

It is not clear whether action by employees will continue today, ahead of a meeting with management, on Monday, to discuss their concerns.