Union preparing for legal action
PELICAN--Work almost ground to a halt at Pelican Resort on Wednesday when an estimated 182 workers staged a peaceful protest to demand their reinstatement and to be recognised as permanent employees.
The workers gathered around the entrance to the lobby and in the lobby during their protest action.
Guests and Pelican homeowners were allowed to enter and leave freely. However, several workers associated with companies to which the resort reportedly planned to outsource jobs were barred by the “Pelican workers” from entering the premises.
At one point, when police sirens were heard approaching the resort, some of the workers on site from at least one “outsource company” scampered off.
Several management personnel were seen performing services such as manning the front desk and accompanying guests into the property.
Loud chants of “Yes,” and “We won’t go” rang out from the lobby as the workers were given pep talks from, among other persons, social activist Eldridge van Putten, who encouraged them to continue their action in a peaceful manner.
A number of Pelican homeowners on the premises showed their support for the workers’ action. Judy Martino, a homeowner for 25 years, broke down in tears when she saw the workers protesting. She was comforted by one of the shop stewards.
“What is happening to them is not fair,” she said. “As homeowners we should collectively sue the ‘mismanagement company’ for mismanaging Pelican.”
National Alliance (NA) Members of Parliament (MPs) George Pantophlet and Frans Richardson were among the persons on site supporting the employees.
The workers were given letters from Royal Resorts Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Corso on Tuesday informing them that the old company – Pelican Resort Club, The Management Company NV – would cease operations at the resort as of 7:00am Wednesday and that they needed to collect all their personal property and leave the facility. The workers were told that they would not have further access to “the private property without invitation.”
The workers’ punch-in cards were taken on Tuesday when the keys to their offices also were collected from some of the managers who did not sign agreements with the company.
Workers Institute for Organised Labour (WIFOL) President Theophilus Thompson, who met with the workers at the WIFOL building Wednesday night, told The Daily Herald the union was preparing to take legal action in the matter.
The crowd of employees started building up from around 7:00am at the “punch-in station,” when the first group of about 25 workers who “showed up to work” couldn’t “punch in.” They were joined by a much larger group when the workers for the 9:00am shift arrived. The workers eventually marched over to the lobby, where they chanted intermittently after pep talks.
Several police officers arrived on the scene around 9:30am and informed the workers that they would not get in trouble with the law if they did not destroy the property, block the passageway or become unruly. The police then left, but returned within an hour and kept an eye on the crowd. There were no reports of any incidents.
Pantophlet, who advised the workers to keep their actions peaceful and incident-free, said government had not done enough to protect the workers. He said he couldn’t understand how a licence could be granted to the new company without conditions to protect the workers.
He said it was confusing that the persons who had been managing for the old owners were the same as those who were managing for the new owners. “If they did not do a good job managing for the old owners, who says they will not do the same for the new ones?” Pantophlet asked.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Richardson, who said this was a major issue and the workers had a right to stand up for their rights. “Enough is enough. There must be a balance,” Richardson said. “Why should the workers go home? Who is going to do the work at Pelican? How can government sit back and allow thousands of homeowners and workers to be affected? We have to protect the people of St. Maarten.”
Owners Judy and Sam Martino of New Jersey told this newspaper they were disappointed with the “mismanagement” of Pelican. Referring to Royal Resorts as the “mismanagement company,” the couple said they were also business owners in the United States and they understood the workers’ plight.
“We can see it from both sides,” she said. “And we fully support the workers. What we understand is that the ‘mismanagement’ company wants to get rid of these workers because they want to bring in workers from Mexico who they don’t have to pay much money to, and that’s not fair.” The two said the strike was affecting the delivery of services. “Right now we don’t even have tissue in our rooms.”
The current level of occupancy at Pelican could not be ascertained. It also could not be ascertained whether the workers’ action would continue today, Thursday.
