By Aniqa haider
Published: 1st September 2008
A BAHRAINI worker is staging a one-man picketing campaign against what he claims is victimisation by Bapco management.
Bapco projects engineer Abbas Al Omran claims he has been denied pay rises that others got and threatened with disciplinary action over his repeated demands for a better deal.
But management said pay rises and promotions were only given to those who deserved them and that Mr Al Omran’s work was not up to the mark.
By Aniqa haider
Published: 1st September 2008
A BAHRAINI worker is staging a one-man picketing campaign against what he claims is victimisation by Bapco management.
Bapco projects engineer Abbas Al Omran claims he has been denied pay rises that others got and threatened with disciplinary action over his repeated demands for a better deal.
But management said pay rises and promotions were only given to those who deserved them and that Mr Al Omran’s work was not up to the mark.
Bapco Trade Union also confirmed that his union membership was suspended nearly two years ago, but would not say why.
Mr Al Omran staged his third protest at Bapco’s Awali gate yesterday, demanding equal rights with other workers.
He says he will stage a similar protest on Wednesday, unless his demands were met.
Mr Al Omran is a former Banoco employee, absorbed into Bapco when the two companies merged in 1999.
He says he had been passed over for pay rises and promotions since November 2006, while colleagues benefitted.
The father-of-three also claims that he has been submitted to several disciplinary actions by the management, which he says is in revenge for his protests.
His first protest was on June 29 this year and the second on August 18, when he was questioned by police, but later released.
Issue
“Former chief executive Dr Mustafa Al Sayed issued a decree at the end of November 2006 that said all engineers in the design department in the project section be modified in their job positions,” said Mr Al Omran.
“They were the first batch, followed by the modification of job positioning of the rest of the engineers working in
several departments and sections in the production department.
“That was to equalise their occupational levels with their engineering colleagues in the refinement section.
“The employees in the project section had not been modified after Bapco and Banoco were merged.
“This decree came as a result of the demand sent by the engineers to the company president on July 2, 2006m” he said.
“They waited for four months and finally the decision was made, but I was excluded from the list.
“This was without informing me or sending any letter on why I was excluded from this decision,” he said.
“I tried writing to the president several times without success as he ignored them.
“I decided to submit a petition after I was summoned by my department head for investigation and was urged to stop writing letters to the management.”
Mr Al Omran also claims that the company targeted him as he was involved in various trade union activities and helped his colleagues in
several issues.
He said he had been waiting for the outcome of his
grievance redress requests for almost two years and had
suffered a lot.
“They are discriminating against me now by taking away my access card, which I need to enter other departments and are harassing me in different ways,” said the 40-year-old.
“They have also called police and I have spent seven hours in Riffa police station for no specific reason.
“The Interior Ministry Legal Affairs Section in Manama checked all my banners and placards and then released me.
“I am still waiting for answers from authorities, but no one is talking to me.
“They just warn me to stop my protests. I can’t stop these, as it is my right to protest,” Mr Al Omran said.
“If they have to decide something, they should talk to me and let me know the final decision,” he said.
Company officials denied his claims and said only the well-deserving employees were promoted.
“His performance is so weak and I don’t think he will be considered, even if he protests again,” said a
company spokesman.
“His problem started since 1999. We sent him various warning letters and politely requested him to improve his performance.
“We took away his access card because he is no longer a union member. Cards are only provided to the unionists.
“His union membership has been frozen for the last two years.
“I think he is trying to gain sympathy from everyone.
“There are 3,200 staff employed with us. Why would the management ignore his letters or requests?” he asked.
Bapco trade union vice-president Mohammed Dulabi confirmed that Mr Al Omran’s membership was frozen from November 2006.
But he would not give the reason, saying only that it was “a long story”.
Meanwhile, the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Union member Abdulghaffar Abdulhussain said the case was under investigation and they were waiting to contact the management to resolve the matter.
Mr Al Omran is still able to work, but the removal of his access cards meant he has access only to his own department.
aneeqa@gdn.com.bh
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© Gulf Daily News
