Philipsburg:--- A number of Pelican workers gathered in front of the Government Administration Building on Tuesday to witness the signing of the agreement between government, WIFOL and their employer SBRMC. Many of them cheered when they saw the two lawyers who have been negotiating on their behalf.The Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams, President of the Workers Union for Organised Labour (WIFOL) Theophilus Thompson and Jairo Bloem attorney for Simpson Bay Resort Management Company B.V signed an agreement on Tuesday which would pave the way for the reopening of the Resort within a ten day period. All parties have also agreed that SBRMC would stick to the court ruling of February 8th 2011 and the current Collective Labour Agreement between WIFOL and management. Based on those terms the 182 permanent workers of SBRMC will return to work when the Resort re-opens its doors.
Management of SBRMC has agreed to request permission to terminate 37 to 50 of the workers. However, they must follow the legal procedures to do so. Management will also entertain any employee who wishes to terminate his or her employment on mutual consent.
Government has agreed to indemnify the laid off workers against any claims resulting from any possible judgment of the court of appeals or the Supreme Court, by which it would become evident that the workers have received monies not due to them by SBRMC. Management of SBRMC guarantees timely payment to the workers and members of WIFOL.The government of St. Maarten pledges to look favorablely at the request of tax extension and possible tax exception based on the current laws of St. Maarten. Government also pledges to give a response on these matters to management expeditiously.
Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams in her address to the workers assured them that she understood their actions and what they were going through during this time. She said based on that, government looked at the broader picture which not only would benefit the workers but the entire country St. Maarten. She also assured the workers that while there were rumors going around that she owned properties in Pelican that was far from the truth.
Click here to view agreement signed by SBRMC, Government and WIFOL.
