Trump's Gaza 'Disarmament Plan' Falls Short of the Breakthrough He Claimed

The StrAF union has formally written to Finance Minister Charles Cooper requesting that customs officers receive bonus payments. The petition mirrors a situation that arose in 2025, when customs personnel raised concerns about why other employees within the Ministry of Finance — such as inspection workers — were receiving bonuses while customs staff were not. The union argues that the exclusion of customs officers from bonus payments is unfair given their comparable roles within the same ministry. The letter represents an escalation of ongoing grievances among customs personnel who feel they are being treated inequitably relative to their colleagues. The outcome of this petition could have implications for labor relations within the Ministry of Finance and set a precedent for how bonuses are distributed across government departments.

The ABVO labor union is calling on employees of Curaçao's Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN) to come forward with concrete information about irregularities within the ministry. The union wants firsthand accounts from workers about situations they believe are not being handled correctly. Based on the information gathered, ABVO says it will determine what position to take and what steps to pursue going forward. The move signals that the union suspects there are unresolved internal issues at GMN but is seeking to build a factual foundation before acting. This approach reflects a cautious, evidence-based strategy by the union before escalating any potential dispute or formal action. The ministry oversees critical public health and environmental policy on the island, making any internal dysfunction a matter of broader public concern.

The STrAF union in Curaçao has expressed surprise and concern after an internal management memo from the customs authority asked all customs officers to disclose any secondary employment they hold alongside their public service positions. According to STrAF, Article 52 of the 'Landsverordening Materieel Ambtenarenrecht' — the law governing civil servant employment conditions — does not require civil servants who do not hold a second job to report anything, and even those who do have secondary work cannot be compelled to disclose it under these circumstances. The union views the internal circular as an overreach by customs management and a potential violation of civil servants' legal rights. STrAF has formally taken note of the memo and signaled its opposition to the directive. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between customs management and the union representing government workers in Curaçao over the boundaries of employer authority in the public sector.