~ Motorists line up to get fuel ~
WILLEMSTAD--Unions STK and STKO representing most of the workers at Curaçao's water and electricity company Aqualectra called a strike yesterday that threatens to spread to the other government-owned companies including fuel provider Curoil. With the weekend approaching, motorists lined up at local gas stations to fill their tanks before the stock runs out.
Petroleum Workers Federation of Curaçao (PWFC) declared that its members stood ready to join the action in solidarity with their colleagues at the utility company. As that could endanger Curoil's distribution of fuel by truck from the Isla oil refinery, many motorists headed for the local pumps.
The strike was called after Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte (MFK) in a press conference had explained his plans to switch to alternative energy and accused those opposed of being against Curaçao. After hearing that, the workers decided that the time for talk had passed.
The unions called a meeting during working hours at union central SSK and had invited Schotte, the Supervisory Board and management to attend, but they did not show. At one point the strikers walked to the nearby Aqualectra branch on Dokweg nearby, to present a letter with an ultimatum to sit down with them by 1:00pm.
Chairman Oswald van der Dijs said the board members had no intention of complying with the request. He argued that the current team was working hard to clear up the mess it had found at Aqualectra and suggested that those opposing this were supporting corruption.
STK and STKO meanwhile received an invitation for a meeting with Schotte on Monday, but that did not satisfy the members and they warned that the electricity supply could not be guaranteed if the strike continued. On Friday Aqualectra's payment offices at Barber, Santa Maria and Santa Rosa remained closed due to the actions.
The strikers are especially angry because of the intended closure already this year of the current main production plant at Mundu Nobo, to focus on energy from the wind, sun and natural gas. Workers of the Build, Own and Operate (BOO) power plant at Isla also joined in.
The unions had been aware of long-term plans to dismantle the costly Mundo Nobo turbines that run on expensive fuel oil, but the original idea had been to first build a new diesel plant on Dokweg. Instead, Schotte signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Spanish group for a huge, 100-megawatt solar panel project.
The unions believe this will affect their members and the whole community in a negative manner, also because – just as with the two windmill parks – it involves "outside companies." In addition, they say the investments needed in the power grid to accommodate the alternative new energy sources were not taken into account.
The union of Aqualectra staff employees SEU held a walk-out of its own and a meeting during working hours outside the main branch in Mundo Nobo, after learning about the intended future electricity "production mix" and its possible consequences. Chairman Errol Bishop said they had already had a meeting with the prime minister on the plans that, according to SEU, will cost 229 people their job.
Schotte stated both in that meeting and in his press conference that he did not favour mandatory dismissals, but preferred a natural reduction in personnel through retirement, etc. He also said workers would be re-trained to deal with the new energy production sources.
The prime minister pointed to the backlog in the payment of social premiums by Aqualectra created by the former management (see related article), which, according to him, means that the workers will soon have to pay a high price for their medical insurance. "The worst thing is that the unions know this, but are now creating a smokescreen about solar energy and things supposedly not going well."
He added that government had only recently learned that Aqualectra personnel were getting NAf. 3,900 per year as a sort of "allowance" to cover their utility bills. He said the company was a "black box" full of hidden funds and as it involved a monopoly, the population was paying for the resulting lack of efficiency.
The other unions at government-owned companies and foundations ABVO, UGTK-Cadmu, CBV and PWFC as well as Police union NAPB are willing to take a joint stand against the Schotte cabinet. The possibility of a general strike cannot be excluded either.
The unions want Parliament to investigate the current policies at these entities. They demand respect and the opportunity to give their input on any developments that have consequences for the employees.
The legislature is to be provided with clear examples of mismanagement regarding the government companies and foundations. The unions further reject the new energy policy and want a permanent solution for the old age pension AOV, adjustment of the proposed basic health insurance BZV and observance of principles of good corporate governance by all stakeholders.
Appointment of government-owned company directors should proceed in a transparent manner, according to the unions. Their list also mentions the planned construction of a new hospital, which should become operational as soon as possible.
The group also wants a supervisor for Public Health, Energy and Transport who functions truly independently of government. Finally, the unions promised to support each other.
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