‘If it were up to us, the general manager could leave’
Text Jason Pinas
Image CDS
PARAMARIBO — President Jennifer Simons has promised to work seriously towards a solution to the protracted conflict between the Ogane Employees’ Organization Suriname (Owos) and general director Leo Brunswijk. This is what chairman Marciano Hellings of the union at the Energy Companies Suriname (EBS) contradicts the True Time following an introductory meeting between the board and the head of state.
The conversation followed after staff at EBS went into consultation on Monday morning out of dissatisfaction with the attitude of the management of the state-owned company. The action was suspended after a few hours, after the management agreed to comply with the union’s demands.
Position director Brunswijk
“The president has asked probing questions to us as a board and, together with us, has identified the burning issues that need to be resolved. She has promised that she will ‘sit’ on the conflict we have with the general manager,” Hellings told the newspaper.
The association board has expressly asked the president to thank general manager Leo Brunswijk. “It is not a decision that we as an association can make, but if it is up to us he can leave. We said that exactly so raw to the president.”
‘The man is not open to criticism and consultation.’ – Owos chairman Marciano Hellings
According to Hellings, Brunswijk is beyond reason. “The man is not open to criticism and consultation. We have tried in various ways to create a workable relationship in the interests of the company. But we have not succeeded in more than two years.” According to him, the head of state has not yet made a decision on this, apparently because she wants to obtain more information.
Agreements with management
Hellings says that good agreements have been made with the company management, which Brunswijk was not present. It has been agreed that the 2025 collective labor agreement must be completed by tomorrow (Thursday) at the latest. In addition, the union demands that the substantial allowance recently promised to EBS managers must also apply to other employees.
Hellings: “It cannot be the case that only some managers receive an allowance of SRD 40,000 and the other people do not. We have made some concrete proposals to the management in the context of the principle of equality,” says Hellings. The association expects a clear answer on this specific issue by the end of the month.
*also read the column ‘Kese kese current’ on page A2 and the commentary ‘Trade union and employers’
