PHILIPSBURG--Smiles, cheers and hugging were scenes at the Workers Institute for Organised Labour (WIFOL) where the Simpson Bay Resort and Marina workers gathered immediately after Friday's court ruling, which the workers saw as a major victory in their fight to return to work.
The more than 100 workers had said they were verbally dismissed by Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC) General Manager Jules James several weeks ago after another court ruling in the resort's favour.
The workers turned up at the Resort after Friday's ruling to immediately report for work, but they couldn't get to meet with Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC) General Manager Jules James, who had been in Parliament at the time.
James, who is also a United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament, was the subject of a lot of criticism among workers and their union representative who said James' conflict of interest situation and his position on the matter has made him lose all credibility among the working class and the population and urged him to "do the honourable thing."
National Alliance (NA) Leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin was among those who visited the workers at the WIFOL Building to congratulate them.
"What he is doing as a parliamentarian cannot be condoned. In fact I don't think he is worthy as a parliamentarian anymore," WIFOL President Theophilus Thompson said on the PJD2 newscast on Friday.
"He has to make a decision to be GM of the resort or a parliamentarian. As an MP he has lost all credibility and the main fact that he voted against the workers [in Parliament] means that he's gotta go. Not tomorrow, but right now. So that is important to continue as part of our struggle."
Thompson said government now has to make a decision when it comes to employing workers, its labour policies and other such issues.
"There seems to be nothing in place that would protect workers and not even guaranteeing business... We need a labour policy that would be balanced for both employers and employees. As a trade union we want to see workers' rights protected."
Marlin was quoted as saying on the same newscast that the verdict was a moment to celebrate. "Even though the war is not yet over, the battle has been won yet again by the workers. Congratulations are in place for them. It is a struggle that we fought. It is a struggle that we believe in. We believe that the rights of workers in St. Maarten have been eroding over the years," Marlin said.
He alluded to NA's draft amendment to the civil code to stem the abuse of short term labour contracts as an initiative to protect workers from abuse. He said there were many workers working for more than a decade at some companies who were on frequent short term labour contracts, which he said prevents workers from obtaining a loan, mortgages and in some cases from even renting a home.
One of WIFOL's shop stewards said on Lloyd Richardson's radio talk show People's Voice on 1300am on Friday that the workers were "very happy" with the verdict. "We wanted to be allowed to go back to work. We have bills."
The shop steward said James has to make a decision on who he wanted to serve as he couldn't be representing the workers in Parliament and sending them home en masse as a company GM. "He has already proven to me that he is now looking at my interest," the shop steward said. She said if yesterday's verdict had been in favour of the company, there would have been chaos in St. Maarten.
Her sentiments were expressed by other shop stewards. "It was a moral victory for the workers. Every one was looking at this case to see what would be the outcome of it. Had it gone the other way, it would have been a real bad thing for St. Maarten because every employer would have been trying to get away with what I see as a crime against workers."
Thompson said on Richardson's midday programme that James was "no longer worthy to be called a parliamentarian. "He should do the honourable thing and allow someone else to be parliamentarian in his place.
"The workers returned to work, went to look for the General Manager who is Jules James and were told that he is in parliament; what a conflict of interest. I mean one time you were on the job executing managerial duties dismissing 100 employees breaking all labour laws... and now that you have been condemned by the court for your actions and conveniently you are in Parliament saying that you are taking care of the people's business," Thompson said.
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