PARAMARIBO – The elections of new union officials within the Ogane Wokers’ Organization Suriname (OWOS) that are scheduled to take place this Friday come at a time when...

there are tensions between management and the union at the Energy Company Suriname (EBS). The chairman of the OWOS who is currently busy with his reelection campaign, Marciano Hellings, claims that management is putting up various obstacles to influence the outcome of the elections. He also claims that management is giving preferential treatment to the other party that is running for office namely Team Bondru. “For the past couple of weeks my party has been busy preparing for the elections but is being hampered in various ways. Propagandists are not given permission to hold activities at certain locations of the EBS. The same rules do not apply to all of the candidates. While some coworkers face restrictions during their election campaign others are given the opportunity to move freely on company premises”, said Hellings who also expressed concern over the fact that certain letters are given to employees during the election campaign. “It is very questionable”, said Hellings at a press conference that was held on Tuesday. The union chairman made it clear that the employer as well as the employee are not supposed to be interfering in each other’s internal affairs. He therefore deemed the current state of affairs alarming and warned that management is trying to influence the outcome of the elections. The elections will take place from 7:30 u till 16:30 on Friday. On the same day it will be announced if Team Hellings or Team Bondru has won the elections.