On this day in 2016, a general strike on the island of Curacao took place in support of striking contract workers at the oil refinery Isla. The strike caused massive power outages, affecting 80% of the island; workers won by the next day.

Refinery workers had been striking unsuccessfully for more than a week, demanding a lump sum of 3,000 guilders (USD $1500) as compensation for the years in which the employers did not compensate their pay for inflation.

On September 13th, seventeen unions and two trade union federations wrote a letter to the Governor in support the strikes, including the demand of the lump sum. That afternoon, former minister and union leader Errol Cova announced a general strike that would begin on September 15th.

On that day, the general strike began, causing massive power outages that affected up to 80% of the island. The lack of air conditioning in the hot climate was frustrating for both locals and tourists.

By the next day, the workers won their demands, including the lump sum, in total 1.8 million guilders for union members. Despite the widespread labor action, there were no reports of rioting or violence according to the Curacao Chronicle.

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  • Kaputnik [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Time for a rant about work

    I don't know if I can teach anymore, I got into teaching right before COVID but I don't think I have it in me anymore. I know they're kids so it's not necessarily their fault but the amount of bigotry I hear on a daily basis is insane. It's like they've been raised on a diet of Ben Shapiro and Andrew Tate for 2 years. And the amount of prep work is insane, it's like having a retail job where you get yelled at by customers but with the addition of homework.

    I want to switch into a job where I can clock in and out every day, like a lab tech job or technical writing. But the thought of losing my union benefits is scary. The only thing keeping me in teaching right now is the time off because I can't afford to live near my friends and family so I use the summers to visit them. :kitty-cri-screm:

    • Kanna [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      I've known people who teach that say similar things. I also really wanted to be a teacher for a while, but everything I read about the job universally said the work / life balance is abysmal and you're vastly underpaid and underappreciated. I wish teachers were treated as important as they are