Privy Council Reserves Petrotrin Shutdown Ruling

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Five Privy Council judges heard the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union appeal over whether Petrotrin breached its duty to consult before the 2018 shutdown, according to the Guardian. They reserved judgment, meaning the union and former workers must wait for a decision. The case concerns a memorandum that called for monthly discussions during a restructuring that was later replaced by closure.

Sources: Trinidad Guardian e-paper, 27 Oct, p11 ↗

The Industrial Court had found an industrial-relations offence, but the Court of Appeal reversed it. The union now challenges that reversal; Petrotrin’s lawyers argue that the relevant statutory provision concerned collective bargaining rather than a commercial closure decision. The Guardian says approximately 5,500 workers were represented under the memorandum. We can report the competing legal positions and procedural status now; the eventual judgment is needed before stating what law the Privy Council adopts.