SALARY negotiations between State-owned Petrotrin and the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union broke down yesterday at the Labour Ministry in San Fernando, with union president-general Ancel Roget warning of strike action by Tuesday, should there be no remedy.

Roget said it was now up to Labour Minister Errol McLeod to intervene and prevent a shutdown of Petrotrin.

He made the announcement last evening outside the St James Street, San Fernando, office of the Labour Ministry, where hundreds of workers had gathered from 10 a.m., causing traffic chaos in the city.

The workers played tassa drums and flutes as union representatives met at the Ministry.

When Roget emerged from the meeting, it was 4.30 p.m.

He said the five per cent increase offered by Government would not be accepted.

He said: "We are not prepared to go back into a new collective agreement period with the same terms and conditions."

Roget said the union informed that it would continue talks only if Petrotrin is willing to move beyond its five per cent offer.

He said, "You don't have to say to us what your final figure might be. But if we must have meaningful negotiations, you must tell us here and now in spite of the fact things are hard.

"We are prepared, for settlement sake, to amend our proposal. But you must be able to tell us that you are willing to go beyond five for any talk to make sense."

Roget said he was told that the company can give no such guarantee and, therefore, "The time for talking has abruptly come to an end."

He said McLeod has been given three days to intervene.

If he does not, workers will send a strike notice to their employers on Tuesday morning.

He said after seven days, if workers and employers still can't come to an agreement, then there will be a strike for 90 days.