SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG:--- Scores of Civil Servants including police officers turned up at the Government Administration Building to protest the proposed cut in vacation pay for the years 2020 and 2021.The Chamber of Labor Unions already indicated to the Government of St. Maarten that they were not going to accept cuts in their salaries and or vacation pay to meet the demanded cuts laid down by the Dutch Government.
Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion gave the unions his last proposal on Monday where he indicated that the government of St. Maarten will not cut salaries and that the only cuts civil servants will face are the proposed 50% in the vacation pay of 2020 and 2021.
The unions were supposed to present a counter-proposal to the Minister of Finance today but instead, their members marched to the Government Administration Building where they are currently protesting.
The protest it is understood was sparked due to the letter sent by Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on Tuesday.
Some teachers who are not part of the Windward Islands Teachers Union already indicated that they were going to accept the proposed cuts in their vacation pay.

Click here to view the letter sent to Civil Servants.