While a new operator is preparing to provide public service delegation for maritime transport on the island, the staff of the deposed delegate are on unlimited strike. They believe that Martinique Transport, the organizing authority, has not respected the memorandum of understanding signed during a previous conflict.
A new era of Martinican maritime transport was beginning. From July 1, new rotations were to begin with reinforced flight crew.
But all this seems compromised. The employees of the ex-Vedettes Tropicales, the former delegatee, left their boats at the dock this Friday, June 28 and began an indefinite strike.
This is the second time this year that they have started a social movement of such magnitude. We thought the climate would be peaceful afterwards a memorandum of understanding signed last April with Martinique Transport, but for them, the agreement was not respected.
This is unacceptable and disrespectful towards us; during a follow-up meeting, Martinique Transport returned to points of the signed protocol.
Daniel Bonheur CGTM Union of Vedettes Tropicales
(Martinique Transport cannot be reached at the time of writing this article).
The start of service of the new delegatee, Blue Lines, is therefore disrupted. The strikers say they have not yet started concrete discussions with Blue Lines. The latter’s desire is to officially start the rotations on the scheduled date.
The sailors are waiting to meet again with the management of Martinique Transport to resolve the differences, in order to guarantee compliance with the agreements previously signed.
