Aden oil workers threaten massive strike [Archives:2008/1119/Last Page]
By: Hamed Thabet
Workers at Aden Refinery went on strike Saturday, Jan. 5, demanding the implementation of the second stage of the wage strategy and their professional allowances.
The three-day strike paralyzed Aden Port's shipping activities and halted work in all of the company's general sections at the refinery and its branches in Aden, including a government-owned petrol station.
According to Sa'eed Abdulmu'min, a member of the General Union of Petroleum, Mineral and Chemical Workers, the strike was conducted for two hours a day since Saturday; however, it's now been suspended for a week, during which all members have returned to work.
He notes that Yemen's oil minister, Khalid Bahah, has pledged to look into the workers' demands and form a committee comprised of union members and Oil Ministry officials to study and resolve the problem.
He further states, “If the Oil Ministry doesn't comply with our demands after a week, all members will cease working and implement a complete strike, which will incur many losses for the nation.” The deadline is this Saturday, Jan. 12.
The strike time was from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., thereby showing that the workers do care about the national interest. However, as Abdulmu'min indicates, “This strike was a warning to the government to look into our demands. We're serious and will do whatever it takes.”
The strike occurred nationwide, except in Hodeidah, as the former head of the union, who was against the strike, is from there.
Such action is being taken because the company's employees seek a salary increase to offset rising daily living expenses. Aden Refinery currently employs 3,375, as compared to 2,400 in 1994. Workers note that they previously received many advantages, but the current situation is slipping from bad to worse; thus, they demand increasing their salaries.
Salaries were high when Aden Refinery Company was under British rule, but today's salaries are extremely low and insufficient to meet daily needs. The workers also are seeking a monthly incentive.
Because the refinery is Yemen's largest and therefore, must handle everything oil-related, its employees are requesting a salary increase for they heavy burden they must endure. Noting that the petroleum sector provides 70 percent of Yemen's budget, they hope to find a solution to their problem.
Moreover, those forced to work in dangerous circumstances are seeking additional compensation for their difficult jobs. All The workers and especially those in dangerous jobs want their salaries to increase by 100 percent, whereas others seek an 80-percent increase, pointing out that Yemen's minimum wage is YR 20,000, which isn't enough to live on, while the highest salary is YR 160,000. Additionally, such workers' health expenses and living facilities aren't covered sufficiently.
There are directions from the prime Minister to meet the union in order to find a solution. Nevertheless, Bahah has the ministry's newly-formed oil committee to meet with the union members and all of the managers within the oil sector in order to conduct a real study and determine whether the workers' demands are justified.
According to Iman Al-Qathi, a nurse at Aden Refinery's hospital, “Last year, the Oil Ministry promised to provide the hospital new materials, but until now, they've only repaired a few walls and rooms. We have a huge shortage of medicine, as well as new equipment. Added to these difficulties, the number of employees has increased and everyone brings their father, mother, etc., to the hospital for medication.”
Another aspect of the workers' demands involves the refinery itself, whose conditions are detracting, as many things require repair or replacing. As Abdulmu'min notes, “The refinery isn't as it was in the past and its capabilities worsen every day. All of this is because there's no real service and the mechanisms are getting to break down in the Refinery and will stop operating and working if it doesn't get any care.”
Numerous sources confirm that when the striking employees refused to obey the company's orders to cease doing so, its administration resorted to threats in an attempt to stop them. As Al-Qathi responds, “Some of our managers attempted to threaten and stop us, but they didn't succeed.”
The union is appealing to Bahah to come up with a serious solution to the problem. In this regard, the oil minister has requested the union provide him all of their demands and strategies, promising that he'll look into the matter, as well as share it with Prime Minister Ali Mujawar.
“Bahah assures that the new committee will consider all of the demands given to him in order to determine the best solution. During the next week, we'll see whether our demands are approved or not; otherwise, we'll continue striking,” Abdulmu'min concludes.
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