WIFOL: Simpson Bay Resort finally acknowledges workers

~ But still hasn't complied with verdict ~

PHILIPSBURG--Workers Institute for Organised Labour (WIFOL) President Theophilus Thompson said on Thursday that Simpson Bay Resort finally has recognised the legal position of its employees by informing said employees in a meeting last week Wednesday that their status is of a permanent nature.

Thompson said the resort's attorney had explained during the meeting, also attended by the union, that employees who were members of the union and currently working at the resort were permanent employees and could ignore the contracts with the resort they had signed late last year and early this year.

He said while this could be called "a good sign," the union and workers were still a bit confused. He said the workers had known they were employed, as they had a court decision of April 2 that confirmed their employment. "We don't know what the attorney was trying to do, but at least the company has now acknowledged the position of the employees," Thompson said.

He said it was still strange that Simpson Bay Resort continued to ignore the court verdict. He explained that the resort still was not complying with the verdict and respecting the collective labour agreement (CLA), and had not paid the employees since last November. He said the workers at the resort still were not receiving their full rights and benefits as outlined in the CLA.

As such, Thompson said, a letter will be sent to the government mediator informing him of the matter and seeking his intervention again. A letter also will be sent to the company with WIFOL's expectations that it will respect the verdict. Thompson said WIFOL also would seek a meeting with the Minister of Labour to express the employees' grievances.

He said that besides not being paid, the employees were unable to collect their annual wage cards from the resort to fill out their income tax return forms and health and sickness cards to which they were entitled.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/28158-wifol-simpson-bay-resort-finally-acknowledges-workers-.html

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