Astaldi Canada did not meet payroll at the Muskrat Falls project site this week, meaning workers did not get paid for work they’ve already done, says the Trades NL/Resource Development Trades Council (RDTC).
And Darin King, executive director of the council, wants an immediate meeting with Premier Dwight Ball and Nalcor CEO Stan Marshall to find a solution.
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“It is very unfortunate that when workers checked their bank accounts this morning, their payroll was not deposited for any work done since Oct. 14,” Kind said. “Our members are extremely frustrated to be caught up in a dispute between Astaldi Canada and Nalcor, and are looking for answers as to how they are going to receive their wages, health, welfare and pension benefits.”
Last Thursday, about 500 workers were ordered by Nalcor Energy to head home from the Muskrat Falls site after it was established that Astaldi Canada Inc. could no longer pay its workers.
Astaldi's parent company filed for creditor protection in Italy at the end of September.
Nalcor CEO Stan Marshall said in a statement today that Nalcor is aware that Astaldi has not met payroll and that the corporation recognizes it is a very challenging situation for workers.
“Our immediate priority is to see that workers receive their unpaid wages owed by Astaldi,” the statement says. “We are currently working on a solution to ensure that workers are paid within the coming days for their work completed since last pay period. We will continue to work with the Resource Development Trades Council and provide updates as the situation progresses.”
Marshall also said that Nalcor has been closely monitoring the financial situation of Astaldi. Nalcor had directed Astaldi to stop work on the Muskrat Falls generation project in anticipation of Astaldi's inability to make this week's payroll.
“In addition to Astaldi not paying the salaries of its workers, there are numerous liens filed against the Muskrat Falls Project by Astaldi's sub-contractors, suppliers and the RDTC because Astaldi is not paying its bills. This has impacted Astaldi's ability to carry on its work.”
The Muskrat Falls Corporation and Astaldi Canada Inc. have also gone to Newfoundland Supreme Court over contract arbitration issues.
The court has ordered the Muskrat Falls Corporation to appoint an arbitrator to a Board of Arbitration which will determine if it has jurisdiction to hear the issues of alleged breach of contract raised by Astaldi.
