WILLEMSTAD - Peace has returned to TeleCuraçao following intensive negotiations between management and the ABVO union. Ultimately, it was agreed that TeleCuraçao's management will today, Friday, pay out last year's overdue holiday pay to its employees.
In a statement, Marlon Manuela of ABVO mentioned that yesterday at ten in the morning, they met with TeleCuraçao's management along with Dwigno Puriel, the Secretary-General of VVRP, to settle matters amicably.
The negotiations were not straightforward. The management had presented the same proposal that the union had previously rejected: a lump sum payment of 4.4% instead of indexation. The employees did not accept this offer, leading to further discussions. The management wanted to halt the strike during negotiations, which was not accepted.
Proposal
ABVO submitted a new proposal, suggesting that instead of the 4.4%, the management should pay the outstanding holiday pay from last year. The remaining arrears from last year will be discussed on July 4, where parties will meet to discuss the contents of Article 5 of the protocol. This article stipulates that management and the union must monthly discuss the financial situation because the payments to employees are too low.
Discussions on the arrears will begin on July 4, and concrete dates will be set for the payments owed to the employees. Today, the payment of holiday pay must take place.