Philipsburg: --- Employees of the St. Maarten Tender Services on Monday approached their boss demanding that the union dues, which were taken out of their salaries for the Windward Island Civil Servants and PSU, (WICSU/PSU) be returned to them. Speaking to SMN News on behalf of the employees is Sandra Blaize. Blaize said the general manager of the company had ordered the secretary not to take out any dues from the employees who are presently at odds with their union but the secretary she said still took out the dues. The long time worker said the company promised to return the monies that was deducted from their salaries. Blaize also made clear that the St. Maarten Tender Services do not have 34 workers as was reported before. She said the workers in the office are part of management while some other workers are on contract. She further explained that management is trying to mislead the public with the figure they released earlier since if all the workers were added together they still would not amount to 34. According to Blaize there are only 18 employees of the St. Maarten Tender Services all of whom she is said works on the boats.
The workers of the St. Maarten Tender Services have decided to change their union claiming that the president of the WICSU/ PSU has failed to adequately represent them. The workers already approached the Union Federation Union where they are seeking representation. A request for a referendum has been submitted to the Federal Labour Department.