Landslide victory for UFA in
referendum at Statia company
ST. EUSTATIUS/PHILIPSBURG--United Federation of the Windward Antilles (UFA) secured a landslide victory in a referendum to represent General Engineering Cooperation (GEC) workers in Statia.
The referendum was held on August 22. Of the 13 workers who were eligible to vote, 11 turned out and all cast their ballots in favour of UFA.
In a notice that appears in today’s issue of The Daily Herald, the Central Government Labour Department said UFA has been chosen as the “sole legal representative” of the company’s employees.
UFA new President Francis Olivacci said in an invited comment that the workers were concerned about a number of issues from their working conditions to the lack of benefits and their pay.
He said the workers were very dissatisfied with the low salaries they receive in comparison to the strenuous work they do.
“They were very concerned about the financial aspect. They were not satisfied with their payment and the treatment they are receiving from the company and they want the union to intervene. We now have to sit and negotiate a CLA (Collective Labour Agreement) with the company to see what we get for the workers,” he said in a telephone interview at his St. Maarten office.
