SWM workers on strike

The workers at the Surinamese Water Company (SWM) went on strike on Friday afternoon. SWM Director Marlon Oosterling assured the nation that the delivery of water is guaranteed and that there is no need for anybody to worry. “The management team is capable of keeping the company up and running.” The workers went on strike because the Arbitration Council rejected the union’s demand for a raise of SRD 500 and a lump sum of SRD 2,000. The workers will also receive SRD 2,290 net less this year. Union Chairman Rudi Baarh instructed all of the union members to assemble at the headquarters of the C-47 labor union federation. For now the management team will fill in for the workers who are strike. The union chairman made it clear that the union wants a meeting with management so that the talks about a new collective labor agreement for 2017 can be resumed. The union is making this demand despite the fact that the Arbitration Council has already announced its ruling which was in favor of management. Management and the union have been negotiating for several months but could not see eye to eye which is why the union took the matter to the Arbitration Council. But the Arbitration Council on Wednesday ruled that the workers would be given a raise of SRD 275 as of January 1. The workers will also be given a lump sum of SRD 1,000. They will receive half of the lump sum in September and the other half in December. But the union had failed to inform the Arbitration Council that the workers had already received an additional SRD 250 pending the final collective labor agreement. Management was therefore given the right to deduct this advance. Baarh who is reluctant to comment on the mistake that was made by the union is sticking to the union’s demands.