WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao fire brigade is back at work. That was required by a court order. The firefighters have been rumbling all week and on Saturday the men seemed to be on strike. But that was not entirely clear.
Nevertheless, the government started summary proceedings to end the strike with immediate effect. The ABVO union tried to convince the judge that everyone was back at work, but that did not really convince the court.
For some time now, the Firemen have had a list of eleven points that they want to see resolved. For example, the no work no pay scheme that applies to some of the staff must be abolished. The scheme is intended to prevent the 12.5 percent salary cut.
According to the General Court, nothing has been submitted by ABVO that could lead to the conclusion that the strike is lawful. The judge is also not convinced that it concerns a conflict of interest for which the right to strike has been given. Moreover, the actions are not proportional.
The union must therefore ensure that the strike is ended and orders ABVO to call on its members working for the fire brigade within one hour of the ruling, in any case by placing an appeal on the Facebook page Sindikato ABVO, to immediately resume their work.