WILLEMSTAD - The unions may start next week with actions against the budget cuts announced by the government.

"Monday can already be the first day," said Solidaridat Sindikal spokesperson Errol Cova, which unites ten unions. If the government does not put an end to their plans for austerity measures, the unions will call on their members to take to the streets.

The unions demanded a meeting with Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath. They received that today. They want to talk about the changes. The government has little room for maneuver now that the Netherlands has imposed a mandate through the Kingdom Council of Ministers that the expected deficit of 112 million guilders must be processed before the end of this year.

Cova indicated after the meeting with the prime minister that the unions will now meet to discuss what they will do next week. The documents they requested from the government were not delivered to them which makes the situation even direr. The unions want to cooperate with suggestions on how to get the island's economy back on its feet but without these documents, they are unable to do this, said Errol Cova. 

On Sunday the unions will announce their course of action.