National Alliance Issues Draft Motion On Pelican Workers

· The ongoing debate on issues surrounding developments at the Simpson Bay Resorts and Marina, whereby, following a recent court ruling, the general manager of the Simpson Bay Resorts Management Company, Mr. Jules James, has decided to immediately dismiss about 100 unionized workers;

· That the workers in question have been told verbally by the general manager, Mr. Jules James, that they were immediately dismissed, without giving them a valid reason and due notice in writing;

· That this action on the part of the general manager, Mr. Jules James, is a clear violation of the labour laws of St. Maarten;

· That the workers in question, some of whom have worked for the former Pelican Resorts for over 10 years, in permanent service, have been told, that in order to remain employed, they had to immediately sign a six months contract before they leave the premises;

· That these actions of the general manager of the Simpson Bay Resorts Management Company, Mr. Jules James, are clear examples of excessive abuse of power;

· That Simpson Bay Resorts and Marina and the Simpson Bay Resorts Management Company have been replacing the permanent workers with casual employees via so-called employment agencies, and that these new employees are offered work for often just 2 or 3 days a week;

· That this practice is aimed at eradicating permanent workers at the resort and circumventing the labour and social laws of St. Maarten and thus infringing on the job security of the workers;

· That the WIFOL labour union, representing the workers of the Simpson Bay Resorts Marina, has filed a court injunction against the decision of the appeals court, seeking for the dismissed employees to remain in their positions until the final ruling of the Supreme Court has been rendered on the dispute between Simpson Bay Resorts and Marina and their employees represented by WIFOL;

· That if the general manager of the Simpson Bay Resorts Management Company, Mr. Jules James, sticks to his decision to dismiss about 100 unionized workers, at the start of the 2011 – 2012 tourist season, this can lead to social and labour unrest in the country, which in turn can have a negative impact on the overall economy;