Some two-and- a half years after ArcelorMittal sent home its workforce, Tubecity IMS Trinidad Ltd has filed for voluntary liquidation.
And the future for some 257 workers appears bleak as they could lose benefits such as severance.
Tubecity IMS Trinidad Ltd is an international company which serves as a contractor to ArcelorMittal.
In 2016 ArcelorMittal was instructed by its corporate head in Luxembourg to shut down the plant and liquidate its assets as it was burdened by $1.3 billion in debt.
The company had said that despite efforts to avoid the closure, local and international challenges had put it under severe financial distress since the second half of 2015.
This led to the closure of downstream companies, Central Trinidad Steel Ltd (Centrin) and Tube City IMS.
Tube City IMS (Trinidad) Ltd (TCIMS) is a leading provider of on-site industrial mill services for steel makers worldwide.
Close to 70 employees of Tubecity IMS Trinidad Ltd attended a creditors meeting at Barataria yesterday. One employee, who has been with the company for the past seven years, accused management of acting in bad faith.
“I have two children in school and it looking like the same situation as ArcelorMittal. If I lose all my benefits how will I provide for my family?” the worker asked.
Another worker, who echoed similar sentiments, feared that his home would be seized as he may no longer be able meet monthly mortgage payments.
Chief labour relations officer of the Steel Workers Union of T&T Timothy Bailey again called on the Government to implement legislation to protect workers.
“The workers are very upset because we have been law-abiding citizens and trying to go through the process of using the court system because the matters are being processed in the court.
In 2016 Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, who had intervened in the ArcelorMittal situation, had said that “never again should an ArcelorMittal-type meltdown be allowed in this country.”
She also promised to bring to Parliament legislative changes to protect workers.
But Bailey said to date nothing has been done and all to the detriment of workers.
“We have been saying from day one that the legislation is too lax. I know this Government will come out of power and nothing will be put in place.
“This Government has no intention of protecting ordinary citizens. It has its own agenda and it is not a Government of the people and they continue to prove that,” Bailey claimed.
He said retrenched ArcelorMittal workers were still struggling to cope. “This is another batch of workers who are going to feel the brunt,” Bailey said.
Following yesterday’s meeting, Bailey said the company remained adamant that it would liquidate.
In 2016 ArcelorMittal was fined $24,000 by the Industrial Court for the procedure it used in laying off over 500 of its employees in December in 2015.
The union had filed the case against the company for failing to properly inform it of the proposal and for bypassing it by negotiating directly with its members.
The company was fined $20,000 for the former and $4,000 for the latter offence after being found guilty.
