~ SXM is the only Caribbean country in the Kingdom not implementing the 12.5% salary cuts.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Finance Minister Ardwell Irion has his work cut out for him with the unions that are currently holding meetings at the Little League Stadium today Monday. The meetings that are being held by the Chamber of Labor Unions are a form of protest against the planned cuts to meet the demands of the Dutch Government for liquidity support.
The unions that are participating in what they describe as an urgent meeting are the ABVO, WITU, NAPB, SMCU, WICHUA, WIFOL, ASEWI, and WICSU/PSU Union.
St. Maarten’s Finance Minister made yet another proposal to the unions which is to leave the salaries of all civil servants intact but to cut 50% vacation pay for 2020 and 2021 across the board, other cuts include cutting uniforms cost, travel expenses and overtime, however, the unions rejected the proposals made by the government of St. Maarten.
Below is the latest proposal presented to the unions which were rejected by Windward Islands Teachers Union President Claire Elshot.
