Philipsburg:--- Some workers of the Pelican Resort have claimed that the President of the Workers Institute for Organized Labor (WIFOL) Theophillus Thompson has been requesting monies from the Pelican workers to pay their legal fees. One of the workers contacted SMN News claiming that Thompson asked them for $100 this past week. The worker said that their union representative even went as far as threatening that he will take them off the list if they don't come up with the funds. "Thompson is asking us for monies even though he knows we are not getting paid. Already the workers had to pay the WIFOL $200 to retain lawyers while they were all paying their union dues." However, a shop steward of the former Pelican Resort said that the workers have to understand that WIFOL has paid a lot of monies in legal fees and if they want the legal fight to continue then they have to assist. "Mr. Thompson asked us twice to assist with the legal fees and at no time did he threaten anyone. On both occasions the WIFOL President requested financial assistance from the workers had been paid. It's not like we did not get pay and Thompson asked for monies. Some of these workers want to get off with a free ride but they have to realize that the union and its members are in this struggle together. When this issue began we all agreed that we would contribute to the legal fees, so I don't know what they are complaining about." Another shop steward said that when the Pelican court cases started they thought of seeking independent lawyers and to request legal aid from government but that option had to be put aside because legal aid is only granted to Dutch citizens. Because of this policy, the Pelican workers had to take one lawyer to represent everybody, since most of the Pelican workers are not Dutch citizens. Most of the former Pelican workers have permanent residency they don't have the Dutch nationality therefore they could not have qualified for legal aid."SMN News learnt that the Pelican saga and court cases have practically drained the accounts of WIFOL and the union is hardly able to meet its monthly financial obligations. The source said WIFOL paid over $60,000 in legal fees and the amount is still climbing. "Can you imagine the union had to post date cheques for the lawyers so that they could continue to work for the benefit of these workers." The shop steward further explained that WIFOL president Theophillus Thompson once clinched a deal with the SBRMC but the workers refused that option. "Had the workers read the agreement that Mr. Thompson signed they would have realized that they would have been working today. The company only wanted to request the termination of 35 persons and because the workers did not accept that agreement Thompson had to head to court. "Because of the Pelican saga and court cases, the WIFOL is hardly able to pay its GEBE bills and the workers know about the struggle so they should be the last persons to go to media with their concerns about monies." Thompson had to go to GEBE and make an arrangement with them when he could not pay his GEBE bills and to avoid disconnection he made an arrangement with GEBE. The two shop stewards said the Pelican labour problem came with a lot of baggage and as workers who are fighting in unity for their rights, they should remain together despite the challenges.
Efforts made to reach the President of WIFOL Theophillus Thompson on Wednesday proved futile as Mr. Thompson was engaged in meetings with the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever discussing the workers of the former Pelican Resort and other labour related matters.
In the meantime, the workers of Simpson Bay Resort Management Company continued with their protest action on Wednesday afternoon in front of the Government Administration Building while the Chamber of Labour Unions was meeting with the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever to discuss the labour situation on St. Maarten. Tuesday marked the second day of protest by the former Pelican Resort workers who are out of work.
