Labor unions threaten to report government to ILO

The labor unions are considering reporting the Surinamese government to the International Labor Organization (ILO). The Teachers’ Association, the Alliance for Teachers in Suriname (ALS), the Progressive Workers’ Organization (PWO), the Association of Employees at the Ministry of Education (BPMO), the Federation of Agrarians and Farm Workers (FAL) and the C-47 Labor Union Federation which represents dozens of unions are convinced that the government has violated at least 2 conventions of the ILO and that it is being vindictive towards teachers. The organizations in a letter urged the government to cease with its vindictive treatment and intimidation and to engage in dialogue with the BvL and the ALS but Acting President Ashwin Adhin has informed them that the government currently does not have the time to hold talks with them. The organizations deem this attitude unacceptable and will express their opinion in another letter. They will also present the issue locally and internationally. Reports indicate that about 300 teachers were reassigned to other schools, 8 teachers were fired and that the unions were stripped of the facilities needed to do the work for union members. The looming suspension of teachers who joined the strikes last school year is cause for concern,” said Robby Berenstein, chairman at C-47. “So you get punished for exercising your right which is anchored in conventions. This is radical…….extremely radical,” said Berenstein.