Sacked worker abandons vigil
By BEGENA P PRADEEP
Published: 19th SEPTEMBER 2008
A SACKED Bahraini worker yesterday gave up his lone stand against the might of Bapco against what he called victimisation.
Abbass Al Omran had sworn to carry on his fight on Wednesday, as he spent his second night camping out on the grassy traffic island outside the main Awali Gate.
However the father-of-three went home yesterday morning, after being ordered by police at midnight on Wednesday to take down his tent, since it was pitched illegally.
Sacked worker abandons vigil
By BEGENA P PRADEEP
Published: 19th SEPTEMBER 2008
A SACKED Bahraini worker yesterday gave up his lone stand against the might of Bapco against what he called victimisation.
Abbass Al Omran had sworn to carry on his fight on Wednesday, as he spent his second night camping out on the grassy traffic island outside the main Awali Gate.
However the father-of-three went home yesterday morning, after being ordered by police at midnight on Wednesday to take down his tent, since it was pitched illegally.
He had pitched the tent on Wednesday, after spending Tuesday night under the stars, so ended up spending a second night with just an umbrella for cover.
His wife had been ferrying food to him from their home in Saar to break his fast at nightfall and for a final meal before fasting began each morning.
Mr Al Omran, aged 40, was sacked on Tuesday morning, following a string of one-man pickets at the gate, claiming that he had been denied pay rises given to others and threatened with disciplinary action over his repeated demands for a fair deal.
The mechanical projects engineer had suspended protests after national and company union officials pledged to investigate.
He began his latest vigil almost immediately after being sacked, on the grounds that he was not doing his job properly. “I had decided to protest in the open where the public could see me to let them know what was going on,” Mr Al Omran said yesterday. “This purpose has been served. I stopped my open protest at 8am and returned home for a sound sleep. Now I should start looking for a job.”
The company had previously said that pay rises and promotions were only given to those who deserved them and claimed Mr Al Omran’s work was not up to the mark.
Following his third protest on September 7, his department manager, supervisor and the human resources manager called him for further investigation, which he refused to attend.
Officials then warned him of stricter action. Bapco branded Mr Al Omran’s claims untrue and misleading, adding that repeated attempts made by the management offering him opportunities to change his attitude and comply with company rules and regulations were refused.
The company said it was left with no choice but to dismiss him as per provisions of Article 113 of the non-government sector labour law, and Article 18 of the penal measures of the company.
Mr Al Omran is a former Banoco employee, absorbed into Bapco when the two companies merged in 1999.
The now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights president Nabeel Rajab and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights have called for his immediate reinstatement. Both branded his dismissal as revenge for being a prominent rights activist and trade unionist.
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© Gulf Daily News