~ Pending today's meeting ~
WILLEMSTAD--The strike called by the STK and STKO unions representing most of the workers at Curaçao utility company Aqualectra on Friday was called off pending a meeting today, Monday with shareholder representative Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte (MFK), the Supervisory Board and management. After things had settled down, Schotte officially opened the island's second renewed windmill park at Playa Kanoa, where he announced plans to expand both existing parks and add a third near the new, reverse-osmosis water plant in Fuik.
The unions also agreed to send their members back to work to avoid a summons for a court injunction to break the strike. However, they did call a general meeting for this morning during working hours at the union central SSK to prepare for Monday afternoon's encounter with the prime minister, who is in charge of Energy Affairs as well.
Concerns that the strike would spread to other government-owned companies including fuel distributor Curoil had caused motorists to line up at gas stations in case the stocks might run out. There were also concerns about the supply of water and electricity. In the end none of these fears materialised, however.
The main issue is Schotte's plan to accelerate the switch to sustainable energy and close the main plant at Mundo Nobo by the end of the year. The personnel, including staff represented by SEU, fear for their job even though Schotte said he does not favour mandatory dismissals and the workers will be retrained to deal with the alternative energy sources.
The young prime minister did not let all the commotion stop him from inaugurating the second renewed windmill park at Playa Kanoa (after Tera Kora). A letter of intent was also signed to add another 6 megawatts by expanding the two existing parks and building another one near the new water plant at Fuik.
Aqualectra director Darick Jonis said electricity from the sun and natural gas are next, making the company a trendsetter in the Caribbean. "The closure of Mundo Nobo is a new direction, but we should not fear change," he added.
Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/29934-aqualectra-strike-ends-.html
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