It is reported that Mr Lex Lovell of Steel Workers Union wants Mr Rennie Dumas labor minister of Trinidad & Tobago to intervene at ArcelorMittal where retrenchment at the steel and iron giant is a contentious issue.

ArcelorMittal last week retrenched 119 workers from its production area. In a

press release, it said 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."

Mr Lovell said that the minister has the power to intervene in labor issues at any time. He added that "He can request that a hold be placed on the retrenchment until further information is given to the Ministry. In previous meetings, nothing ever came out of it but we are asking for his intervention now."

Mr Fazad Mohammed communication's manager at ArcelorMittal said that continuous discussions were held with the union. He added that "We have always maintained continuous dialogue with the union. We are obligated to inform the union and maintain open dialogue. We are also obligated to have discussions with the employees and as a company, we have taken the opportunity to communicate with them."

Mr Lovell, who maintains that the company is acting in bad faith, highlighted the cost being spent by the company since expatriates were being hired instead of locals. He said that "No one is talking about management taking a pay cut and it is they who are wasting money. All our expatriates in years gone by have stayed in Central Park or Balmain and now there are expatriates living in West Moorings."

(Sourced from www.newsday.co.tt)