THE Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) has written to Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Stuart Young over what it calls questionable practices at National Petroleum Marketing Company Ltd (NP), asking him to intervene.
The two-page letter, signed by OWTU president general Ancel Roget, expressed concern about professionalism and leadership, "particularly in terms of fairness, transparency, responsibility, and accountability" at the company.
Among its concerns was the board's handling of a September 2023 incident when a manager allegedly tampered with his or her own performance review near the end of a contract. The union said instead of taking stringent measures to ensure fairness and transparency, the board extended the manager's contract and put the employee on administrative leave for nine months while investigating the matter.
Although an investigative report was presented to the union, it said it did not trust it.
"At this point, the union wishes to state categorically that we are not satisfied that the investigation was thorough and therefore it cannot be relied upon."
It also accused the board of immediately firing a senior auditor who blew the whistle on the manager's conduct.
The letter to the minister also highlighted accusations of wastage and underutilisation of existing staff. It alleged that two positions were recently filled using contracted employment with people who had less experience than those with substantive roles within the company.
Citing these and other concerns, the union told Young NP employees had no confidence in the chairman and the current board members.
"The union therefore calls on you, as the line minister, to take the most appropriate action in the interest of TT National Petroleum Marketing Company Ltd. To do otherwise runs the risk of further deterioration of this most tenuous situation."
Newsday sent a copy of the letter to Young via WhatsApp but no comment was forthcoming.
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