Truckers complain at Esso
It must be something about the holiday weekend that has workers on edge. Having seen calls for industrial action at WASA and Venus Bus Lines earlier in the week, this morning the truckers who haul the nation’s fuel aired their complaints to the media.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Operations at the Esso Terminal shut down for almost three hours this morning as close to 40 truckers protested what they call unfair treatment by Esso management. The men refused to move their tankers and do any work because they say despite the fact that they have been on site since Wednesday night waiting their turn to fuel, management has been allowing the turbo trucks from the international airport to jump the line.
Bonifacio Gonzales, Trucker
“Apparently the manager decided to have the turbo trucks go in so we should wait. They wanted first for one to go in and one to come out the whole day. We have Free Zone to do and they do not want us to go. So we agreed with it yesterday then today they came out with the same thing that they had seven trips and they wanted them to just come in and go and we have been here since last night about 3 o’clock and we have to wait until they come back.”
Jacqueline Woods
“For us to explain, what’s the normal procedure that you guys do back here? What is it that you guys do?”
Bonifacio Gonzales
“The normal procedure as you reached, as you noticed the trucks are park in a cue, you go in one behind the other as you come.”
Edward Gongora, Trucker
“We have our family to stay home with. We are sleeping out here at this place almost 24 hours just to deliver. We just pass through our home to bathe and change our clothes and come out and these people that they put to jump us are people who stay home and come out on late hours and just jump us again. I mean we just want to be home with the family too.”
Jacqueline Woods
“And why do they put the turbo trucks in front of you?”
Edward Gongora
“They say that they need to get the fuel to the airport and that they used it for the planes and things. They claim that they are running down low, but we don’t see it that why because if they run low they can always maintain, but they’re hauling all during the week.”
Jose Espat, Esso’s Plant Superintendent spoke to the men on the compound and although no permanent agreement was reached both parties came to an understanding. The men say for only today they will allow the turbo trucks to go ahead first and fuel but if they continue to be mistreated they will once again shut down the compound.
Espat declined to speak on camera but explained that it was necessary to have the airport trucks jump the line because a tanker ship is arriving tomorrow. In order for there to be enough room in the Esso storage tanks at Yabra the existing jet fuel must be transferred to the airport. Eight loads were sent on Wednesday and nine more are scheduled for today. Espat admitted that the independent truckers were inconvenienced but said the matter could not be avoided.
