SXMElections.com

~ Told to stay home for three months, then reapply ~

PHILIPSBURG--Twelve Coliseum Casino workers, ten of whom have been working at the casino for more than twenty years and one for twelve, are "furious," "frustrated" and "stressed out" after suddenly being placed on the unemployment line on Monday "without any explanation."

The workers were left in limbo after receiving their work schedules, which show that Monday was their last day of work. When they approached Princess Group of Companies official Hakan Unal about the matter, the workers said they had been told they either could stay home for three months and reapply for their jobs and would be considered for employment, or they could form an employment agency and the casino would consider hiring the agency under which they would be given a chance to work at the casino.

Unal could not be reached for comment late last night. The workers told The Daily Herald they had raised their concern with Labour Minister Cornelius de Weever, who referred them to Labour Ministry official Peggy-Ann Dros-Richardson, to no avail. They also raised it with Social and Health Care Insurances SZV.

"We want our jobs back. We want to work. If we didn't want to work we wouldn't be at the casino for more than 20 years," said one frustrated worker, who indicated that several "new faces" from Turkey had been appearing at the establishment recently, giving workers reason to believe that they will be "replaced by Turks."

"We were sent home without a dismissal letter. Slavery days are over. They cannot continue to do this," said another worker.

The workers told this newspaper Coliseum Casino had closed its doors in 2002 due to what it had claimed were financial issues. The workers had been working at the casino at the time of its closure, some since 1993, before it was sold to the Princess Group of Companies. The workers said the then-Island Government had given the casino the green light to reopen in 2003 on the condition that its 50-plus workers were re-hired. Only portion of the workers opted to be rehired at the time. The 12 workers who are now in limbo are the only ones left from that original batch.

They were rehired on contracts. After three one-year contracts, the workers said the Princess Group had told them they had to form a company (employment agency) and the Casino would hire the company under which they would operate at the casino.

The workers went to the late Oldine Hodge, who operated Administrative Advocate located on Front Street, who hired them under his employment agency. In retrospect the workers believe they were "tricked" into going under an employment agency at the time. "We did not have any legal advice at the time. We just wanted to work, so when we were told to go under a company; that's what we did," one employee said.

"We never knew it would come back to bite us like this," said another. "But I believe that we were tricked, because in the casino business, no one wants to give you more than three contracts. You get three contracts and then you have to leave or you will become permanent and they don't want that. So to remain working we did what they told us to do."

One of the conditions of their employment contracts was that their employment would end if Hodge passed away. However, the workers said the contracts with this stipulation had become null and void after 2010.

The workers said everything had been "smooth" with their employment arrangement until Hodge passed away in July. They have continued to function in their positions at the casino since he died. All the salaries they have received since Hodge died were accompanied by a letter from the Princess Group in which the workers were told they were being given "assistance" in the form of interest-free bridge loans to be repaid to the company.

"We understand that your salary for the month of (month mentioned) has not been paid as yet by your employer. This brings hardship to you and your family. Since you perform your services on behalf of your employer at the Coliseum Casino we want to offer you assistance in the form of a short-term bridge loan in the amount of (amount mentioned)," the letter to workers read.

"The amount is interest-free and needs to be repaid in full upon receipt of your (month mentioned) salary, once paid by your employer. If payment of the (month mentioned) salary for whatever reason does not take place at all, the loan amount will be waived and you will have no longer a repayment obligation."

The workers said that when they received their work schedule and realised that they were not scheduled to work after Monday, November 3, they had approached Unal on the matter. They said Unal had told them they either had to form a new employment agency that the Princess Group would consider hiring or they could stay home for three months and reapply for their current positions.

The workers do not understand why they have to remain home for three months and reapply for their jobs when they have been functioning in these positions for more than 20 years already.

Eleven of the workers are Dutch nationals. The workers are a cashier, a waitress, a dealer, three supervisors, two pit bosses, a slot attendant and three other cashiers.

"I have three young children. Some people have mortgages and school fees for their children's playschool," one worker said.

"I am angry and stressed," said another.

The workers said they had raised their concern with Labour Minister Cornelius de Weever, who they said had referred them to the Labour Department, where they said they had been told they could not be helped and had been advised to seek legal aid and apply for "onderstand" (social assistance).

Labour Ministry official Peggy-Ann Dros-Richardson, with whom the workers said they had spoken, is aware of the issue and plans to brief De Weever on the matter today, Tuesday.

The workers are expected to receive their last pay from Coliseum today, Tuesday. They say they felt helpless as though no one was willing to help them.