Airport:--- The secretary for ABVO complaints and disputes department Kenneth Bremer met with the staff of the Princess Juliana International Airport on Friday morning to update its members on the Collective Labour Agreement discussion that took place between the ABVO and PJIAE.Bremer confirmed to SMN News that parties had met on Thursday to finalize the Collective Labour Agreement. Bremer said that the CLA expired since 2010 and Thursday's meeting was to discuss the points that parties could not agree upon. He said that at the end of the day the union felt that there was a breaking point because they felt that they could not reach an agreement.
SMN News learnt that the Management of PJIAE was in favor of having the CLA for a period of five years but ABVO and its members only agreed to a three year CLA. Workers stand to benefit an annual salary increase of 7.25% for the first year, 7.75% the second year, and 8.25% the third year. They will also get a one month bonus and vacation allowances annually. Those that participated in the meeting are the workers of the Fire Department, Security, Operations and Accounts.
However, by the end of the meeting with their membership, all parties reached an agreed and the workers of PJIAE gave ABVO the green light to sign on to the new CLA. Bremer said that the workers already got a lump sum for the year 2011 and when the CLA is signed the workers will be paid retroactively to January 2012.
