AIRPORT--Princess Juliana International Airport SXM and the union ABVO concluded several months of negotiations and signed a new collective labour agreement (CLA) on Wednesday.
The CLA structures and details several benefits due to workers in the coming months.
SXM Airport Deputy Managing Director Larry Donker congratulated the union for a job well done and thanked the airport’s negotiation team headed by Clarence Richardson.
“Today is important for both organisations, as it gives us the opportunity to acknowledge the importance of negotiating. All in the interest of our employees, this was initiated in the first quarter of this year. To the ABVO, we thank you for your valuable contribution, and to the negotiation team headed by Clarence Richardson, we know it was not easy, but we are happy with the outcome,” said Donker.
ABVO President Charlon Cathalina said before signing the agreement, “ABVO had to fight for this CLA to get the best agreement to table for the benefit of all workers. We had some difficult times, especially during negotiations. Thanks again for understanding and we proved that we fight for our members’ interests. We had the chance to talk to all our members before we headed to the negotiation table and it pays off today as we sign this document.”
The signing took place in the boardroom at the airport and the union and airport management had a toast after the signing as they move forward. The last time a CLA was signed was in 2012 when it was expanded to includemore benefits for 245 workers.