Striking bus owners in Suriname

by Caribbean Net News

Disgruntled bus owners in Suriname have suspended a strike that had paralysed public transportation for over a week. While negotiations with the government were resumed on Thursday, operators decided to suspend the industrial action, accepting a temporary increase of 15 percent, officials from the bus owners' unions told reporters.

According to Edmund Dundas, spokesman for the unions, the operators are seeking an increase of bus fares of at least 65 percent. While the unions were pushing for a temporary increase of 50 percent before resuming services, they complied with a request from the government to suspend the strike.

During a meeting with representatives of the bus owners, vice-president Ram Sardjoe noted that the economy and social activities in the country were being affected seriously by the strike and called upon the operators to return to work.

The unions, however, were reluctant, claiming that in 2005 they had also followed a request from the government to end industrial action and since then the administration didn’t carry out what has been promised.

After the government increased its offer from 12 percent to 15 percent, saying that this was a temporary increase and negotiations should result in a definite fare hike, the industrial actions were suspended.

Transport minister Richell Apinsa disclosed that, so far, negotiations were very hard, since bus owners were clinging to their 50 percent demand. With the compromise that has been reached meanwhile, Apinsa maintains that the operators would be compensated for losses for the past couple of days.

Meanwhile, high school teachers continued their strike, demanding better wages, improved working conditions and other benefits. Union leader Wilgo Valies vowed to continue the strike until the teachers receive what they deserve.

On Tuesday of last week, teachers abandoned their classes, demanding that the government implement an outstanding agreement signed several years earlier.