Simpson Bay:--- Several workers of the Pelican Resort Club now operating as Simpson Bay Resort Management Company who are also members of the Workers Institute for Organized Labour showed anger and frustration at both the Management of SBRMC and at the President of the WIFOL Theophillus Thompson on Thursday.The workers went to the SBRMC early Thursday morning after they read news reports stating that the company was willing to hire some 92 of the WIFOL members as early as Thursday. The distraught workers who are without salaries since early December thought their employers would have them return to their duties on Thursday morning but when they showed up at the resort they were each given a new application form to fill in. The workers said they were told that they have to re-apply for work at the SBRMC since the SBRMC would not recognize them as workers of the company. The angry set of workers collected the forms and went over to meet with their union representative Theophillus Thompson. At the WIFOL, several workers displayed their frustration claiming that they are of the opinion that the President of the WIFOL is playing some sort of game with them. The workers told Thompson that they are the ones suffering and they all have children to feed and bills to pay they also told him that if he knew he could no longer help them as a union representative then he needs to tell them that. "I have children to feed and bills to pay and I believe that you know what is going on and you are not being honest with us, if you know you can no longer help us then you need to tell us that up front." The workers also demanded answers from Thompson wanting to know if the union already filed an appeal with the Supreme Courts. They said SBRMC lawyers made clear that no appeal was filed with the Supreme Courts and that was the only reason why they have decided to offer them a job opportunity with the company. Thompson promised the workers that he will pose their questions to their legal representatives and he will get back to them with the answers. It is understood that Thompson met with his attorneys at 2pm Thursday to get clarity on the court cases and also to find out how they should move forward in the matter.
Thompson also advised the workers to fill in the application forms and to return them to SBRMC and told them that they should wait and see if the company will call them for an interview or offer them a contract. The WIFOL President also offered the services of his office to assist the workers in filling in the forms, copies of which he will keep in their files.
Despite Thompson's efforts to calm the workers down, several of them blew up saying that they are the ones who are not able to provide for their families. "One of the workers was overheard saying that they have been dragging their feet for two long and that now is the time to take drastic action. "The time to burn and set fires to the politician's homes and businesses is now. We have had enough and its time we take action, our union representative is not doing enough and he is playing a nice game while our children are hungry and the banks are going to foreclose on our homes."
In the meantime, Attorney at Law for SBRMC Jairo Bloem said the application forms that were distributed on Thursday should have been a registration form for the company to know exactly which of the employees are willing to work with the company. Bloem said 52 workers picked up the forms on Thursday and six of them already returned the forms that were filled in and signed by the employees, Bloem said the next step in the process is that each worker will be called in separately and they will be provided with individual contracts, those workers who agree will have to sign the contracts and they would then begin to work.
Silent Protest at the Great Bay Resort --- Police Re-enforcement called in.
The workers also suggested to Thompson that he should accompany them to the Great Bay Resort where the SBRMC General Manager Jules James was attending the inter-parliamentary meetings. "We need to take our plight to our Kingdom representatives and point out to them that a member of St. Maarten Parliament is acting in conflict of interest. However, Thompson told the workers that he was not against their plans to go to the Great Bay Resort but he will not accompany them there.The workers quickly moved over to the Great Bay Resort where they protested silently. Accompanying them was the vice president of the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions Claire Elshot.
When police noticed the workers at the entrance of the resort they quickly called for backup, the small and peaceful protest even attracted Commissioner of Police Carl John to the scene.
By then, Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin exited the meeting hall and met with the workers outside. Marlin informed the workers that there is not much the Dutch Parliament could do for them even though they know of the situation. Shortly after, Chairlady of the Dutch delegation and the Chairperson of the Second Chamber's Committee of Kingdom Relations Brigitte van der Burg and Marijke Linthorst Member of the First Chamber and Deputy Delegation Leader joined Marlin outside of the resort where the angry workers were.
The workers told the two Dutch Members of Parliament of the amount of years they worked for Pelican Resort Club and the situation they are faced with today. Several workers showed the two Dutch MP's the application forms and they informed them that SBRMC got rid of workers who are residing legally on the island to hire undocumented workers for cheap labour. They also informed the MP's that the company was busy trying to de-unionize them which according to them is undemocratic. They also informed the Members of Parliament of Jules James who is also a Member of Parliament and his role in their dismissal. They went as far as highlighting the November 17th meeting of Parliament called by the National Alliance when the NA faction presented a motion for them to go back to work and Jules James voted against the motion even though the Chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell knew he was acting in conflict of interest.
The MP's informed the workers that there is nothing they can do for them, even though they shared their pain. "It's your Members of Parliament on St. Maarten who have to do something for you. The most we can do is bring the matter up informally with our colleagues on St. Maarten."
They also informed the Pelican workers that de-unionizing of workers is taking place worldwide and what their bosses are trying to do is something every employer is busy doing in order to attract cheaper labour.
National Alliance next move.
Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin also assured the workers that he would raise the Pelican dismissal matter one more time in Parliament. Marlin said he already requested a meeting to discuss related issues and he will raise the Pelican issue in the meeting. He also assured that he will attempt to regulate the matter where Jules James voted on the motion that was presented by the National Alliance. He said statements were made that it was wrong and what should have been done but no one has corrected the matter thus far.
Pelican Resort Club to Reactivate Petition to dismiss all Pelican Workers --- Aims at saving 4.5 Million Dollars --- Workers may now be able to access cessentia benefits.
The chairman of the Tenants Association of Pelican Resort Club (TAPRC) plans to submit another request to the Ministry of Labour to terminate the 183 workers that worked for the Pelican Resort Club Management Company (PRCMC) that was managed by Royal Resorts Club. A letter from the chairman Arthur d'Itallia to the President of the Workers Institute for Organised Labour Theophilluis Thompson states they as party to the Collective Labour Agreement with WIFOL which expires on December 31, 2017 intend to write a letter to the Minister of Health a Labour Cornelius De Weever to reactivate the petition that was filed on January 18th, 2011 to dismiss all the workers. That petition was withdrawn on January 27th, 2011 by an attorney that was representing PRCMC. According to information SMN News received, the PRCMC will save a total of $4.5 million dollars in benefits and severance payments if the Department of Labour honours their request to dismiss all the workers. Should the labour department grant PRCMC their request the workers would also be able to access their cessentia benefits.
Click here to view photos of Thursday's action by Pelican Workers.
Click here to view the letter sent by PRCMC to WIFOL on Thursday.
