Operations at Buckeye, the island’s sole fuel importer, faced major disruptions today as a significant number of employees called in sick, fueling speculation of an unofficial protest linked to ongoing union negotiations. The sudden absenteeism has raised concerns about possible disruptions in the fuel supply chain, prompting key clients—including Lucelec, Sol, and Rubis—to closely monitor the situation.
This development follows a wave of social media reports earlier this week suggesting that Buckeye employees were preparing to stage a coordinated “sick out” in protest of prolonged labor negotiations. The reports referenced over two years of stalled discussions between the company and the National Workers Union (NWU), fueling anxiety over a potential de facto strike.
Despite the rumors, the NWU has denied sanctioning any industrial action, stating that it was blindsided by the reports. Union representatives insist that negotiations with Buckeye remain ongoing and that no official strike has been planned. However, they acknowledged growing discontent among employees, citing widespread frustration with the pace and outcome of discussions.
Public unease has been exacerbated by viral social media messages urging citizens to “fuel up and make necessary arrangements,” with some posts explicitly warning of an imminent three-day strike by gas station suppliers. The mass absenteeism today has only intensified fears that employees may be taking independent action, despite the union’s official position.
In response, Buckeye has activated contingency measures, calling on contractual staff to take on additional responsibilities and keep operations running. In an official statement, the company acknowledged the speculation surrounding a possible work stoppage but assured the public that it remains committed to fair negotiations with the NWU. Buckeye emphasized that it does not anticipate any operational disruptions at this time and remains focused on concluding discussions to finalize a labor contract.
With tensions running high and fuel supply concerns mounting, all eyes remain on Buckeye and its workforce. Whether today’s mass absenteeism was an isolated event or the first sign of an escalating labor dispute remains to be seen.
