WILLEMSTAD – The teachers' union DOEN says it presented its case in court on Monday in its legal battle with the Curaçao government over salary step increases, arguing that its members are entitled to receive the benefit starting in August 2024.
According to the union, the hearing proceeded positively and was unique from a legal standpoint because one judge had previously declared another judge unable to hear the case before it was reassigned.
Before entering the courtroom, members of DOEN and representatives of other labor unions gathered in prayer, placing the case "in the hands of Almighty God," the union said in a statement.
DOEN also welcomed the fact that the presiding judge spoke and understood Papiamentu, allowing the hearing to be conducted in the island's native language. The union said this enabled its attorney, union president and members attending the hearing to address the court directly in Papiamentu.
At the heart of the dispute is the interpretation of legislation affecting periodic salary increases, known locally as "trede." The government maintains that although the law eliminating teachers' entitlement to the salary step increase was repealed in January 2024, educators are only eligible to receive the increase beginning in August 2025.
DOEN disagrees, arguing that education employees should have regained the right to the salary step increase as of August 2024, following the repeal of the legislation.
The court agreed to allow both parties to submit additional written arguments before issuing a final ruling. DOEN must submit an additional statement by August 31, while the government has until September 28 to file its response.
A final judgment will be issued after those submissions have been reviewed.