Bloomberg recently reported that hundreds of workers at Mittal Steel’s Trinidad facility are demonstrating against the government’s failure to implement a profit and stock sharing option. As per report, the workers have also grouses related to health & safety issues and mechanical failure with the mill furnace.

The report cited Mr Lex Lovell president of workers union of Trinidad and Tobago as pointing out that the stock sharing issue had been outstanding for the past 12 years and was part of the government’s agreement with Mittal Steel over the sale of the then Iron and Steel Company.

Mr Lovell said that in Mittal Steel’s annual report it acknowledged it had to settle a debt with the workers and the stock would be put in a plan. We have been trying to get the government to deal with the issue but we have not had a favorable response so far. He threatened a mass demonstration in Port of Spain.

Mr Lovell added that the melt cast department was shut down because of health and safety concerns coupled with mechanical problems. He described his meeting with the Mittal Steel management as complex and myriad. He added that protests will continue indefinitely until all outstanding labor and profit sharing issues are finally settled.