The OWTU represents 5,000 workers at the sole refinery.

At the heart of the dispute is a 35 per cent wage increase from the OWTU.

The state-run refinery company, Petrotrin, has offered a 10 per cent salary increase and points to its current upgrade work to keep up with new regional deals on oil.

Several Caribbean countries have signed a deal for oil at concessionary prices from Trinidad's neighbour, Venevuela.

While Trinidad, as a fellow member of the Caribbean Community, Caricom group, originally opposed Venezuela's Petrocaribe deal, it finally accepted the new arrangement.

However, Trinidad them put its effort into improving its refining and distribution process to keep up with the future regional market.

Eight-month dispute

The current action began on Monday after weekend talks broke down.

	Trinidad's economic mainstay - the oil industry - is based in south Trinidad.

200 workers walked off the job.

Petrotrin's Corporate communications manager, Alvin Corneal, has said that there is no need for Trinidadians to panic buy gas.

"We have ample supply to sustain our local market," Mr Corneal told BBC Caribbean. "This is not yet in jeopardy."

Mr Corneal said that the refinery, which produces gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) to the local, regional, and American markets, has supplies for another three to four weeks.

Need to upgrade

Petrotrin has asked the OWTU to take into account the company's need to spend additional money on upgrading to keep up with regional developments.

The OWTU, which represents 5,000 of the refinery's workers, has accused Petrotrin of not engaging in meaningful dialogue over the last few months.

Mr Corneal said Petrotrin has two options - to continue talking with the OWTU or to take the issue to the country's Labour Ministry.