Philipsburg:--- The President of the Workers Union for Organized Labour (WIFOL) Theophillus Thompson told reporters on Thursday during WICLU's weekly press conference that he and the shop stewards of SBRMC met with the appointed trustee of the Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC) and he informed the trustee that the company has a number of permanent employees who are still at home not receiving a salary while SBRMC is using employment agencies to outsource its work.
Thompson described the meeting as fruitful while calling on all workers of the Simpson Bay Resort Company who are currently at home and are not working to report to the office of the WIFOL so that the union can make up a list to send to the trustee.
When asked by reporters if the trustee will send these workers who have been home since last year November back to their jobs, Thompson said the trustee did not tell him what they will do with the workers who are at home. It should be noted that when the SBRMC saga started two years ago some 182 workers were laid off, of that amount two are now deceased while the company took back almost 100 of the works on a contractual basis.
Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Fruitful --- Minister to Intervene in GEBE Impasses.
The President of the WIFOL Theophillus Thompson said that he met with Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin on Wednesday to discuss the impasse at GEBE. Thompson described the meeting with Minister Marlin fruitful. Thompson said he updated the Minister on the impasse the union is confronted with, the signing of the Collective Labour Agreement. Thompson said that the Minister has promised to look into the matter and to see if parties can come to an agreement.
When asked by the media workers if he (Thompson) raised his concerns with Marlin regarding the meeting he held with the principles of SBRMC. Thompson said the Minister raised the point and the explanation given to the union is acceptable.
SMN News also questioned Thompson about the rumors that are circulating regarding his relationship with the principles of SBRMC. SMN News learnt that Thompson went on a vacation to Mexico which was financed by the principles of SBRMC. When asked if the information that is circulating has any truth to it, Thompson said that whoever said that is clearly telling a lie on him. He said that the last time he went to Cancun was in 1996 when he was the vice president of the Latin American and Caribbean Tourism Federation. Thompson explained that he went on a fact finding mission to see if Royal Resorts was a bonafide organization that was seeking to take over Pelican Resorts. "When I went there I went with the late Francisco De Weever who was an insurance consultant on St. Maarten." Thompson further explained that the last time he went on a vacation it was in 1988. He made clear that each time he travels it is on business. He said he is not only the President of the Workers Institute for Organized Labor. "I am on the boards of several organizations, therefore when I travel it's on business." Thompson said that they stayed at one of the Royal Resorts in Cancun and when they returned to St. Maarten they reported to the trustee that was appointed during the bankruptcy of Pelican Resorts. "It was because of our visit and investigation that Royal Resorts came to St. Maarten. WIFOL had a very good relationship with principles Royal Resorts. Thompson said he regrets that the union got dragged into this dispute because the "war" started with Royal Resorts and the homeowners and both parties wanted the union to take sides. WIFOL refused to take sides and decided to fight for the workers (members) rights.
