Trinidad Express reported that 199 steel workers received retrenchment letters from Point Lisas based steel giant ArcelorMittal Steel. The workers, who were temporarily laid off in January, learned their positions had become redundant and will now individually meet management to discuss severance packages.

Mr Lex Lovell president of Steel Workers Union of Trinidad & Tobago said that this move was ridiculous, adding that the company was using the global economic downturn as an excuse to cut staff while keeping operations running at full levels.
He added that "Since the layoffs in January, they have one man doing the job of two and three. It cannot continue, workers will fall down on the job. How can they expect one person to sustain that kind of pressure? The union will be sending a letter to the ministry of labor to get the retrenchment reversed. After that we will take it to court if it comes to that. We are willing to take this all the way to get justice."

Mr Fazad Mohammed manager of communications at the plant said that the company deeply regretted the decision, but it became necessary to ensure the company's long term sustainability and survival. The move is part of a wider restructuring exercise the steel company has to undertake. He added that "At the onset of the global financial crisis, the company was forced to reduce production across our operations in the fourth quarter of 2008."

(Sourced from www.trinidadexpress.com)