The News Day reported that ArcelorMittal employees have demonstrated in front of the finance ministry to demand a meeting with Trinidad and Tobago finance minister Mr Winston Dookeran to settle an Employees Share Ownership Plan promised to them since 1994.

First, Mr Wayne Roberts VP of Steel Workers Association said that the union was able to secure an agreement with ArcelorMittal to pay bonuses owed to workers when the state owned Iron & Steel Company of Trinidad and Tobago was sold to ArcelorMittal 16 years ago.

Employees are also expected to benefit from an ESOP and are waiting for government to decide on a share price and other issues concerning the plan.

Mr Roberts explained that former finance minister Mr Karen Nunez Tesheira met with the union in an effort to diffuse this issue. He added that "We wrote to the current minister to request a meeting to finalize arrangements but we received a letter from the ministry stating he was unable to meet with us at this moment. We are here protesting this procrastination. We already have an agreement with the company for the bonus, we need the government to go forward for us to get shares."

Approximately 900 workers stand to benefit from the bonus and ESOP. Mr Roberts explained workers are expected to use some percentage of their bonus to buy shares in the company when they are made available publicly.

(Sourced from www.newsday.co.tt)