Philipsburg:--- The Pelican workers with their union representative Workers Institute for Organized Labor (WIFOL) were relieved on Friday when the Court of First Instance ruled in their favor to delay the execution of the Appeals Court decision until the Supreme Court renders its final verdict.The judge of the Court of First Instance identified that the Appeals Court had made an error in their ruling some weeks ago.
President of the WIFOL Theophillus Thompson told SMN News that the workers went back to work about one hour after the court verdict was known to them but the company's general manager and Member of Parliament Jules James was not on the property when they reached there.
Thompson said the Court of First Instance granted the workers and their union their request during the Injunction which is to place a stay of execution on the Appeals Court's verdict which according to them is erroneous. Even though the court ruled in favor of the workers and they are heading back to work, Thompson said the legal battle is not yet over. "We won this battle but the war is not yet over, my members and I have to remain vigilant until the Supreme Court issues its verdict on the matter."
The jubilant workers met for a brief moment at the WIFOL building where leader of the National Alliance William Marlin addressed them and assured them that his faction in Parliament will do all in their power to represent all the people of St. Maarten especially workers who are being abused by certain employers. Marlin told the workers his faction is busy working on the concerns of the Advisory Council to amend the civil code where they intend to put some better structure and guidelines on the use of the six-month contracts that is being abused by certain employers.The National Alliance leader said there are some employers who use their workers as tools on the work site and these workers he said have to be protected which is what his faction intends to do in the Parliament of St. Maarten.
