Court orders mediator to solve UFA/Menzies dispute

May 18, 2010 2:03 PM

PHILIPSBURG--During a court hearing last Friday the judge ordered that United Federation of the Windward Antilles UFA and Menzies Aviation should appoint a mediator within two weeks to resolve the deadlock over a requested five per cent across-the-board increase for staffers.

Menzies had summoned UFA to court on Friday, citing claims that UFA had "taken action" after management had not accepted a package proposed by the union that included the increase.

UFA sent identical letters to Labour Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson and Labour Minister Elvis Tijn Asjoe on Monday requesting their assistance in appointing a mediator or an "extraordinary mediator" to "mediate and solve the problem between UFA and Menzies amicably."

In the letter UFA said Acting Mediator Kenneth Lopes should be appointed. However, UFA said the past Labour Minister had declared that Lopes "does not have the authorisation to handle deadlocks as a mediator, because an Acting Mediator cannot handle deadlocks."

UFA further stated in its letter that Lopes had not been able to handle deadlocks the union had reached with other entities in the past. "That is why we are appealing that you appoint a mediator or an extraordinary mediator in order to solve the deadlock between UFA and Menzies as quickly as possible," concluded the letter sent to the Labour Commissioner and Minister, signed by UFA President Francis Olivacci and UFA advisor Willy Haize.

A letter was also sent to Menzies General Manager Kenneth Kong in which UFA claimed that Kong had made contradicting statements in court over the proposed increase. The Daily Herald contacted Kong for comments on the matter, but Kong said the dispute was an internal matter he preferred to keep discussions as such.

The last collective labour agreement (CLA) between UFA and Menzies expired in November 2009. Parties started talks for a new CLA in September. Menzies has some 65 to 70 workers who load and offload baggage for all flights at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).

(Source: The Daily Herald St. Maarten)

17 May 2010