On Sunday President of the WITU Claire Elshot condemned the Minister of Education for sending out a press release to the media indicating that Monday is a regular school day and that her Ministry will apply the "no work, no pay" policy for those teachers who stay away from the classroom.
Elshot said Minister of Education Rhoda Arrindell taught the teachers on St. Maarten to be the "Rosa Parks" of St. Maarten when it comes to fighting for their rights. She also called on Minister Arrindell to join hands with her colleagues in the council of ministers to find a proper and workable solution when it comes to the cost of living allowances and vacation pay for teachers.
Elshot also issued a call to all parents to bring along their children at the Sports Auditorium to join the teachers in their struggle. "This is not only about the teachers it's about your children also" Elshot told the radio listeners.
Elshot appeared on the Lloyd Richardson radio program with President of the WIFOL Theophlius Thompson and Press Officer of the Windward Islands Health Care Union Greg Arrindell where they each said they are in solidarity with each other as workers are in the current labour unrest on St. Maarten.
Participating in the actions that is called "membership meetings" are the WICSU/PSU, ABVO, WITU, WIFOL and the WIHCU. The meeting on Monday is to further discuss the proposal offered by the council of ministers on Friday evening.
On Saturday, workers of the Pelican Resort Club manifested against their employer who sent them home last week and has been outsourcing their employment to other companies. Workers of Pelican Resort Club showed up at the resort where they blocked the outsourcing staff from entering the resort.
Thompson said the Pelican workers will meet at the WIFOL building on Monday morning before they join the meetings of the WITU, WICSU/PSU, and ABVO at the Great Bay Sports Auditorium as the WIFOL has filed a court case against Pelican Resort Club for sending home the 182 workers.
In the meantime, a circular was sent to SMN News where an organised group of persons is calling for a general strike to force the present government out of office.
The circular which is posted below states that if the people of Tunisia and Egypt can come together and force their government out of office the people of St. Maarten can do it too.
Below is the circular for your reading pleasure.
Massive General Strike Circular to Force Government from Office.
