Court orders firefighters
to return to work today
~ Failure to return will result in NAf. 2,500 daily fine ~
PHILIPSBURG--Judge Frans Vennix has ordered the 18 firefighters who have not shown up for work at the Airport Fire Department since Monday to return to work by today, Friday, or face a daily fine of NAf. 2,500.
The judge said he was not convinced that the firefighters, who had all called in sick three days after one of their colleagues had been fired for failing to carry out an instruction, were genuinely ill.
A summary proceedings filed by Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) against the 18 firefighters was held around 4:00pm on Thursday. The airport filed the proceedings since its operations were under threat of being closed down if the firefighters continued to stay away from work.
Almost all airport firefighters reported sick on June 18, leaving the airport without sufficient firemen to comply with safety procedures.
Attorney Jeroen Veen, who represented the PJIA said the Island Government Fire Brigade temporarily assisted the airport but that support comes to an end this morning, which he said could have resulted in the “imminent closure of the airport.”
“After hearing all arguments, the court informed parties that it was not convinced of the sickness, as it appeared to be too much of a coincidence that 18 firefighters fell sick on the same day at the same time,” Veen reported late Thursday.
“The judge immediately gave a decision and ordered the firefighters to cease their participation in this collective action and any other action that will harm the normal operation of the Airport.”
He said the firefighters have been ordered to resume their duties according to their normal schedule by today or face a daily fine of NAf. 2,500.
He said the workers representative United Federation of the Windward Antilles UFA had informed the court that it did not support the action and that it will inform its members that the court had ordered them to resume their duties.
He said management of the airport expects the firefighters to comply with the order.
Veen told this newspaper in a telephone interview that the Court Marshal attempted to summon the 18 workers to appear in court yesterday but most of them could not be found at home. He said too that the workers were asked to visit the company doctor on Wednesday and Thursday but none had shown up on either day. He said of the 18 workers, one or two of them were known to be genuinely sick and will be exempted.
He said the Island Government has a limited number of firefighters and they could not continue assisting the airport as they needed to be stationed at their bases in the event of an emergency.
A meeting among the Government Mediator, Airport Operating Company President Eugene Holiday and UFA on the matter is scheduled for this morning.
The firefighters and UFA were represented by Attorney Reynold Groeneveldt. Also present at the court hearing were Holiday and his management team; UFA President Lionel Boasman and Advisor Willy Haize.
