WILLEMSTAD – Confusion and tension continue to grow around the Isla refinery as union leaders confirm that workers employed by Global Oil Management Group have been sent home, even though the Curaçao government and the state-owned company 2Bays—formerly known as Refineria di Kòrsou (RdK)—have yet to make any public statements. 

Although labor leaders agree that the layoffs have occurred, they remain divided on the level of transparency being provided by refinery management. Alcides Cova, president of the General Union of Workers of Curaçao (SGTK), has once again raised alarms, claiming that employees and unions are left in the dark about the refinery’s future and that workers have already been forced to stay home without further instructions. 

Cova criticized interim director Patrick Newton of 2Bays for failing to communicate adequately with union representatives. However, his claims were disputed by Gherrel Remilia of the Apri union (Association for Staff Employees of the Isla Refinery), who says he and Angelo Meyer of the Petroleum Workers Federation Curaçao (PWFC) receive regular updates when requested. 

The root of the conflict appears to be a dispute over facility access. Global Oil Management, which has invested over $20 million in plans to restart asphalt production, needs access to certain installations on the Isla site. However, those same installations were later contractually assigned by 2Bays to another company, Oryx (now operating under the name Vigor), creating a legal and operational standoff. As a result, Global has suspended nearly all of its activities. 

While the government remains silent, union leader Remilia confirmed that Global has terminated all contracts with its workers—reportedly affecting around 70 employees, in addition to earlier-dismissed American specialists. 

Remilia assured that workers employed by Curaçao Refinery Utilities (CRU), a subsidiary of 2Bays/RdK, will retain their jobs. CRU plays a critical role in local fuel distribution, and its services are reflected in the per-liter fuel prices paid by consumers. 

The unions now call for urgent dialogue between the three key stakeholders—2Bays, Global, and Oryx/Vigor—to resolve the ongoing dispute. However, when asked by local press what specifically needs to be resolved, Remilia declined to elaborate. 

As workers face growing uncertainty and operations at the Isla site remain in limbo, the silence from both 2Bays and the Pisas III government is becoming increasingly difficult to justify, union leaders warn.