WILLEMSTAD - The unions representing civil servants will be informing their members this week about the ongoing negotiations. The unions are pushing for the agreement to be retroactive to January 1, 2023, while the government is only willing to go as far back as January 1 of this year. The unions ABVO, Sitek, STrAF, NAPB, and SAP have scheduled multiple meetings this week to update their members on the latest developments. If the government does not present a new proposal, the unions are threatening to take action.
Premier Gilmar Pisas stated that during last week's meeting with CGOA, the platform representing the unions, the government was willing to negotiate until midnight. However, the unions left the negotiating table without further discussions. Pisas emphasized that the government respects the unions' autonomy but stressed the importance of maintaining calm and a rational approach. The cabinet is calling on the unions to return to the negotiating table to find a joint solution for civil servants.