Curaçao workers’ strike victory

Dutch NOS TV reports today that bosses on Curaçao island in the Caribbean have given in to demands of striking precarious workers at the Isla oil refinery, and other workers in general strike in solidarity with them. All precarious workers together will be paid 900,000 euros in wage supplements.

Also, the government has withdrawn its anti-free speech decree banning assemblies of over four people, another cause of the general strike. The government has also said they are willing to change the third cause of the general strike, a law making higher wages for public sector workers illegal.

The general strike was peaceful; contrary to what the government had said in advance as they threatened Dutch soldiers’ violence against striking workers.

According to [NOS correspondent] Dick Drayer the people were mainly on the side of the trade unions. “I’ve seen that the people are angry because a housekeeping book seems to be more important than the needs of society. People refer to the uprising of May 30, 1969, when a strike at [the] Shell [oil refinery] led to unrest that left two people dead. Things did not go that far this week, but I felt a willingness to go further if necessary.”

On 30 September there will be elections on Curaçao. Some trade unionists are candidates.