Airport:--- Unionized workers of Menzies working at the Princess Juliana International Airport are currently on industrial action as they demand the 1.6% cost of living adjustment owed to them for the years 2009 and 2010.
The workers at Menizes are backed by the United Federation Association (UFA). Speaking to SMN News, President of the UFA Francis Ollivacchi said that Government mediator Derrick Holiday ordered the Managing Director of Menzies Kenneth Kong to make the payment since last year and to date the payment has not been made. Ollivacchi said he went to Kong on Friday morning demanding that the over 60 workers represented by UFA be paid the 1.6% owed to them and Kong did not cooperate. “Because of the lack of cooperation from Menzies Director the union had no choice but to have its workers down their tools as of 12 noon on Friday. Menzies workers are responsible for the handling of luggage for several airlines.” It is not clear if operation at the Princess Juliana International Airport is affected. Ollivacchi said that while 60 workers are permanent staff of Menzies, the other (55) that are currently working for Menzies are contracted workers working for an Employment Agency on St. Maarten.
In the meantime, UFA President hinted that there might be some other uproar as early as Tuesday at the Princess Juliana International Airport. Ollivacchi said the Government mediator Derrick Holiday has a number of security guards working for him at the PJIAE and these workers have not been paid for the past three months. "Here you have the government mediator that also has his own company and is refusing to pay his workers. If this is not a conflict of interest I dont know what is. Holiday is supposed to be the mediator to settle dispute between the companies and the union and today he is the owner of a delinquent company. We are expected to sit down with Holiday on Tuesday and if the security guards are not paid then we will be taking action.”