Philipsburg:--- The President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) told reporters on Tuesday at the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) weekly press conference that the other members of the WICLU (meaning the NAPB and WICSU/PSU) are now endorsing the letter she intended to send to government regarding the cost of living adjustment payments (COLA). Elshot said when she made the announcement last week after meeting with the board of the WITU, the other unions contacted her and informed her that they wanted to endorse the letter she is sending to government because they all share the same opinion on the COLA payments. Elshot said the Minister of Finance announced that he is bringing in a consultant from the Netherlands to conduct a study on St. Maarten regarding the COLA payments. However, the unions want the Minister of Finance and the consultant to know that civil servants, mainly teachers are paid far less than teachers in the Netherlands and the BES Islands. She said she hopes that the Minister of Finance and the consultants will take these points into consideration.
Elshot lambasted the Finance Minister who said he made the COLA payments last year when he took office even though the promise was made by another government. She said that Government has to understand that while the study is being conducted, the 2011 COLA payments are due and it should be made now with the structure that is in place. The WITU President said that the unions made it clear that while the government is looking for a future sustainable solution the COLA that is currently due has to be paid. Elshot said that this new study and probable solution would have to be for the future payments and not retroactive. "We are in 2013, so we are supposed to get 2011 and 2012 COLA payments." Elshot further explained that the NAPB is already on board while WICSU and the others will finalize the letter that she sent to them so that it can be sent to the Government of St. Maarten in the very near future.
When asked if the unions did not have to take actions in 2010 before they were paid, Elshot confirmed in the affirmative and said that the unions even went as far as giving Government a few percentage during the negotiations they held prior to the actions that were taken in 2010.
Another issue that has WITU's attention is the letter that government has to give pensioners so that they can obtain their pension fund. Elshot said when pensioners reach the age of 60, Government has to give them an honorable letter of discharge in order for the pension fund to begin their payments. She said that several persons contacted the union complaining that they are not able to obtain this letter even after their salaries stopped. She said even if some of the pensioners decide to work on contract after they reach the pensionable age that does not stop them from receiving their pension dues if the documents are submitted to pension fund.
The WITU also expressed condolences to the people and Government of Curacao on the passing of its former Prime Minister Miguel Pourier.