Airport:--- The Windward Island Civil Servants Union (WICSU) and its members in the immigration department of the Princess Juliana International Airport took industrial action on Saturday.William Reed President of the WICSU told SMN News in a telephone interview that the union and its members have had enough. Reed said currently there is a deadlock between the union and the Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba. Reed said immigration officers has no chairs to sit on while working at PJIAE, the computers do not have the protective screen, immigration officers who are permanent are yet to get their salary increase and benefits and the Minister of Justice is doing nothing about these matters. "I have held meetings with her and she keeps promising that she would look into the matter and to date nothing is happening. I also sent an email to the Minister telling her that I will not take any responsibility if anything happens at PJIAE. Reed said St. Maarten is approaching 10/10/10 and the union and its members have to know what would happen to their benefits and salaries and the Minister must give us some assurance on these matters. Unless that happens then the WICSU would have to take action to get her attention.
During the action persons arriving on St. Maarten were allowed to walk through without being processed. At the time SMN News learnt it was the peak hour at PJIAE when several planes had landed.
In invited comment Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groenevelt said when he heard of the incident he immediately went to the airport to begin talks with the WICSU president William Reed. Groeneveldt said before he begin the talks he asked Reed to send the immigration officers back to work since he considered the union's action to be very irresponsible. "Right now we don't know who is on our island and what this could do to our economy and I made this very clear to Reed" Groeneveldt said.
