In Curacao, SITEK calls school strike over safety concerns

WILLEMSTAD — The SITEK union called a school strike this morning for all education workers and school transportation employees in Curaçao. The action follows an incident last Friday in which a student stabbed a teacher who intervened in a knife fight.

SITEK president Darius “Lio” Plantijn said schools would be without adult staff this morning and called on education workers to gather at the union’s headquarters at 8 a.m. According to Plantijn, members demanded action because their safety and peace at work are at risk.

Plantijn also criticized Justice Minister Shalten Hato, who allegedly questioned how the union had called the strike during a telephone conversation with Education Minister Sithree van Heydoorn. Plantijn stressed that SITEK is independent and that striking is a democratic right.

The union leader accused the government and Parliament of failing to adequately address safety in schools. He also criticized school administrators who said classes would continue normally or instructed striking employees to report to the occupational health service.