SAMIR refinery workers plan sit-in

The Democratic Confederation of Labor at Samir has announced plans for a sit-in during the first week of November, coinciding with ongoing legal proceedings at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

The company’s sole oil refinery has been inactive since 2015, despite reaching a significant stage in the arbitration process.

In a statement received by Hespress, the union announced that “following various protests and initiatives directed at relevant parties before and after the judicial liquidation ruling, the office decided during a meeting in Mohammedia to organize a sit-in at Samir Company on Friday, November 8, 2024.

The aim is to demand the rescue of the plant from decline and collapse, as well as the protection and restoration of workers’ and retirees’ rights regarding salaries and pensions.”

The union, which represents the company’s workforce, emphasized that this action stems from “the catastrophic situation Samir Company has faced after nine years of persistent production disruptions, resulting in the loss of national interests and workers’ rights. This has occurred amid the government’s indifference and negative stance toward our union’s calls.”

“Despite the refinery’s ability to meet approximately 70% of Morocco’s oil needs,” refinery professionals highlighted the “serious negative repercussions of ongoing disruptions. These include the accelerated deterioration of production capabilities, rising restoration costs, and the decreasing number of technicians and engineers without proper succession planning.”

The union office also warned about the dire circumstances facing workers and retirees at Samir Company. They rejected the procrastination imposed by the judicial liquidation syndicate in responding to workers’ demands. The union insisted on ensuring that workers receive all rights outlined in the existing collective labor agreement and called for restoring the regular wage system and resuming pension contributions.

The statement emphasized that the decision to proceed with the sit-in followed the government’s loss of all justifications for evading assistance in the Samir Company case.

The government bears full responsibility for the situation, which is rooted in privatization and conflicts of interest, leading to the erosion of national interests and workers’ rights.

The Samir union office renewed its call to “halt the severe losses and revive oil refining at the Mohammedia refinery.” They stressed the importance of addressing the regional and international context for building energy sovereignty.

This could involve transferring the company’s assets to the state through debt offsets, encouraging private sector acquisition of the company’s assets, or implementing self-management in collaboration with the state as the main creditor, workers, and major creditors from both the private and public sectors.