Marigot/ Paris--- Civil Servants working for the Collectivity of St. Martin have rejected the proposals of the union managed to secure during their negotiations yesterday as the workers began industrial action. Even though not happy the workers have decided to suspend their one day strike until further notice said general secretary Serge Weinum. Wienum said the concerns of the workers are not yet settled since the workers rejected the proposals made by President of the COM Frantz Gumbs.
He said the next step is to have the Union Leader from Guadeloupe enter into the negotiations. The union boss is expected to arrive on St. Martin by the end of the week.
So far there has been no agreement signed due to the fact the workers are still dissatisfied.
Unions UACL and CGTG representing the employees initiated the strike action based on dissatisfaction among Collectivité employees over their conditions of employment, benefits, salaries, career advancement prospects, promotions, training possibilities, and so forth. The unions said an agreement with the Collectivité administration signed May 22, 2008, to address these issues had never been acted on. President Gumbs was sent a notice of strike (pre-avis) on January 12.
Asked why the proposals was rejected Weinum said the workers do not like the way they are treated. He said they intend to defend the protocol that was signed in May 2008. He said while implementation of this protocol is moving slowly. The workers feel they are being taken for granted and they are not valued enough.
He said many employees working for the past 10 years had not been promoted or given any incentive for advancement. There are also complaints that metropolitans have been recruited for jobs over the locals without any prior consultations.
The union general secretary said Gumbs proposed certain dates by which trainings will be given to the workers while their files will be upgraded. Weinum said while they (Union) were satisfied with what President Gumbs proposed most of the members rejected the proposals. He said the members did not even give them a listening ear.
One of the main concerns of the workers is the amount of foreign workers who are being recruited by the Union Pour le Progres and are being paid high salaries. The workers feel that they are not able to meet their bills at the end of the month with a salary of 1,400 Euros. They said some of them have close to 20 years of service and they are carrying home peanuts while the new recruits have a salary of close to 4000 Euros. Several placards were placed in front of the COM asking who is the real boss of the Collectivity while other placards states that the people of St. Martin needs to be given a chance. "Employ people who can handle the job, while the unqualified are the ones cleaning up the mess."
While the workers held out their day long action Senator Louis Constant Fleming made sure he board the Air France flight 489 bound for Paris.