As a result close to 5,000 children were deprived of their normal midday meal.
The union claims the kitchen was opened too hurriedly before ensuring all aspects of the kitchen were operating satisfactorily. An inadequate gas supply and electric shocks coming from appliances, and seven displaced workers, are the main grievances.
Garbage bins and other materials were strewn across the access road leading to the kitchen and a picket line of workers stood guard. There was no restriction to traffic on the RN7 bypass.
President Gumbs chose not to confront striking workers at the site but explained the situation from his point of view during interviews on La Voix de Saint Martin (101.5FM) and SOS Radio (95.9FM).
Gumbs began by saying the strike was illegal as no notice of strike (pr�avis de gr�ve) had been submitted to the Collectivit� beforehand. But he added he was willing to meet with a delegation from the union to discuss the grievances in a reasonable manner.
Asked why he declined to meet with the union last Friday at a pre-arranged meeting he said he was not prepared to meet a large group of 25-30 workers who were demanding to see him when he expected to meet with a delegation only.
"I will not be pressured in this way. Myself, and my technical staff are willing to meet with a representative of the union in a civilised manner."
As for the kitchen itself, he said it is "functional but not optimal" for production of meals.
"Of course the Collectivit� is aware of the problems and we are doing all we can to resolve the issues," he said. "CTOS is looking for ways and means to feed the kids if the strike continues. The problem of the electric shocks has already been fixed. There is no gas leak, but the problem with the gas is lack of pressure. The equipment is very sophisticated. We are trying to resolve these issues with the specialists."
Union representative Nicole White said if the electric shock problem has been fixed, the union has not received any reports or assurances there will not be any reoccurrences. Up to now no new date for a meeting has been set.
"We want a written confirmation that the President really will meet with us," she said.
Asked why a large group of workers turned up to meet with the President instead of a small delegation, she said: "Since the month of June we have been discussing many issues with the Collectivit� and we are not getting concrete answers. We decided the whole group should hear what he has to say because we feel he is not taking the employees seriously enough."
President Gumbs assured a contingency plan is in place to provide snacks for the school children today, Tuesday, if the strike continues.
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