PHILIPSBURG:--- During his weekly press briefing, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina provided an update on the ongoing dispute between the government and the WICSU/PSU union, which represents the nation's fire department workers. The Prime Minister outlined the key issues at the heart of the impasse and detailed the government's efforts to resolve them.
Dr. Mercelina identified several core components of the dispute: negotiating a covenant, the placement process for workers under a new function book, retroactive payments, and the role of a mediator. He emphasized that his government has made significant progress on issues that remained unresolved for years under previous administrations.
"The government has unequivocally agreed to the retroactive payment for fire department workers," Dr. Mercelina stated, acknowledging it as a matter of respect for past service. He also confirmed that the placement process, based on the new function book published on March 25, 2025, is moving forward. This function book was approved by the Committee of Civil Servants Unions (CCSU), which represents all unions.
Flexibility has also been shown in negotiations. According to the Prime Minister, the government agreed to the union's request to change the government’s negotiating team to keep discussions moving forward. Furthermore, both parties mutually agreed to appoint a mediator to help bridge the divide, and that process recently commenced.
However, Dr. Mercelina expressed concern over new demands that have emerged just as mediation began. He noted that the union is now asking to negotiate directly with the full Council of Ministers, bypassing both the appointed mediator and the Minister of General Affairs.
A primary point of contention is the union's demand that a "commitment letter" be converted into a binding "agreement letter." The Prime Minister cautioned that he cannot sign an agreement containing provisions that lack a legal basis for execution.
"I must operate within the legal framework of our country," he explained. "I cannot, in good conscience, sign an agreement containing items that lack a legal basis for execution. Doing so would be irresponsible and would ultimately set up our workers for disappointment when those promises cannot be legally fulfilled."
Dr. Mercelina reiterated his commitment to finding a fair and sustainable solution. "My intention for the fire department is more than good, out of a good heart," he affirmed. "I want this problem to be solved as soon as possible." He urged a return to the agreed-upon mediation process to finalize an agreement that honors the firefighters while upholding the laws of St. Maarten.
