Manama: Staff at Alba, one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world, are threatening to protest over alleged changes to the promotion system.
The Alba Labour Union claims as many as 600 people could be affected by plans to reduce the cap on promotion in a bid to save money on wages.
It says it was notified by management about a plan to scrap grade eight, the highest level an employee can reach.
If that happened it would mean employees currently at grade seven would no longer be eligible for further promotion – or the 10 per cent salary increase that goes
with it.
“We received an e-mail last week from management stating they were freezing the grade eight level, which will affect around 600 staff working in different departments,” said a union spokesman.
“These workers were waiting for promotions from grade seven to grade eight and now the level is scrapped.
“A worker gets a 10pc hike in pay once they move up to another grade, but with this decision they are upset.”
The move by Alba is being regarded as a cost-cutting measure, with the smelter more than halfway through a two-year project launched in February last year to
trim spending.
It also coincides with a drop in the aluminium price, which fell to a six-year low last month to $1,549 per tonne.
The lower price has affected smelters globally and union officials met Alba management last week to discuss priorities following the sharp downturn in the aluminium industry.
“We understand the economic situation and the low aluminium prices affecting smelters, but things should be made clear so that we can explain it to the union members,” said the
union spokesman.
“Many who are eligible to be promoted to grade eight have spent over 10 years with the company and deserve to get it because of their long
service.”
He said the union would resort to protests if the policy was implemented, but added any demonstration would take place outside of work hours to avoid disrupting production.
“We organised several protests in May this year over the scrapping of an annual BD20 allowance, which the Alba board finally agreed (to reinstate) and the issue was solved,” he added.
“This time again we plan to organise similar protests early in the morning, before the shift starts, as no-one wants work to be affected.”
Alba officials did not comment yesterday.
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