Claire Elshot.
PHILIPSBURG--President of Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) Claire Elshot said on Monday she stands in solidarity with the unions in French St. Martin, who are currently striking over a number of grievances.
Elshot said she went over to French St. Martin on Saturday to show her support when the unions were expected to meet with French officials only to end up in a clash between protestors and authorities. The union president said the French teachers’ union FPEG, which is also affiliated with Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) is also involved in the strike action and she supports the union in its cause.
“We are in solidarity with what is going on in the French side with the unions. We are in solidarity with the struggles the unions have for the workers’ rights and their fight for workers to be respected and for what they are trying to secure for the workers. From what I understand they are fighting for jobs for the workers, they are trying to secure the workers’ rights, and respect for their workers, and you must remember that these workers have their families. It is also about the rebuilding of schools that is taking too long after Hurricane Irma and all the restrictions that come with you not having a decent pace of work,” Elshot said.
