EBS workers to use different strategy every day

The workers at the Energy Company Suriname (EBS) who are currently on strike on Thursday decided to use a different strategy every day. One of their strategies could be to turn off the switch, thereby causing a black-out. The union called for a meeting so that it could be decided how far the workers could go with their campaign. The union has not ruled out anything yet.

Union chairman Steve Geerlings confirmed that the fault-clearing service would not respond to any calls. The workers are furious because the second meeting with the government which took place on Wednesday night did not yield any results. During the first strike the faultclearing service made an exception in case of a fire and traffic accident. The union chairman was reluctant to reveal when the nation will be without electricity. “We will hold meetings every day and every day we will choose a different strategy,” said Geerlings who finds it hard to believe the government’s claim that there is no money to execute the new collective labor agreement. He explained that management had already told the union that the money for the salary raise and the once-only lump sum had already been put aside. The union was told that the workers could only get a tax cut of SRD 125 and SRD 100 as compensation for the exchange rate. Management on Thursday night issued a statement, assuring the nation that the supply of electricity and cooking gas are guaranteed although the union has issued a strike.