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local Friday 10 February 2023

Labor union STA signs collective contract for Tierra del Sol employees

(Oranjestad)—Yesterday had to tighten our resourc- bor contract,” he assured. out. New owner of Tierra del Sol
Morning, the labor union es, and Tierra del Sol did This contract is valid for 3 As it has been known since
‘Sindicato di Trahadornan not have the financial sup- years, so they can keep As a union, they knew they the beginning of the new
di Aruba’ (STA) held a press port for the union’s require- the peace in the years to could have applied more year, Tierra del Sol was sold
conference to inform the ments, which the workers come. What they man- pressure on the company, to a tourist company called
public that after a few years were asking for,” Diego aged to include in the con- but seeing as the company Iberostar Group, which is a
of delays, they have signed de Cuba, president of the tract is very good, “if we will be handed over to an- company that categorizes
a labor contract (CAO) with union, expressed. make a calculation with other owner, a big invest- themselves as a leader in
the goal of creating labor everything together, the ment has to be made for the world of tourism. They
peace to the employees at He also explained that they conditions will improve for the golf course. This area own more than 100 4/5-star
Tierra del Sol. saw a recovery after the those workers with approxi- deteriorated over the years hotels in 16 countries with
pandemic, but once they mately 15%, which is an av- due to lack of a team and about 5.6 million clients.
The process for signing this were ready to finally sign, erage of approximately 5% materials for maintenance. Iberostar Group is a Span-
contract was one that took they were met with another per year if we look at every- ish family-owned company
a long time to complete. obstacle. They learned that thing that will be improved. “We have expressed our that has been specializing
The pandemic had been the company was sold to a Their salary will increase, understanding about this to in the tourist sector for more
the first bump that caused Spanish group, “but every paid off days will improve, the new owners. However, than 60 years. Their origin
a delay in this process, as cloud has a silver lining, the savings fund, end of year we also expect them to un- starts in the shoe industry in
this made the financial situ- collective contract will be bonus and vacation mon- derstand that the workers 1877. After 1956, they en-
ation on Aruba difficult. signed today. This is a well- ey. So, if we take a look at have waited a very long tered in the tourist sector
However, there were hap- balanced contract, and everything together, this time, and have even sacri- with the purchase of Viajes
py to see that not one em- has most of the important contract is indeed pretty ficed to maintain whatever Iberia, and they started
ployee lost their job: “we ingredients for a good la- good,” de Cuba pointed they could with what little creating alliances with tour
they had. I have to say that prestige tour companies in
thankfully the new owners Europe, Merca of Canada.
were very empathetic, and In 1983, the trade name
we were able to sign with Iberostar was born, with 7
them,” de Cuba expressed. hotels in Mallorca, Spain.
They also hope there could In 2017, they launched
be labor peace at Tierra a movement to protect
del Sol in the coming years, the oceans called “Wave
and that they could even- of Change”, with which
tually sign for something they aim to contribute to
better for the workers, “be- the 14 goals of the SDGs
cause I think that the inves- in order to conserve and
tors aren’t just millionaires, utilize oceans, beaches
they’re billionaires. So, they and marine resources in
are serious people, people a sustainable way. It is for
that own hotels and that this reason that they take
are going to create an- advantage of the poten-
other one. They seem to tial that the tourist industry
have serious intentions in has to construct a rentable
investing in this country. and responsible model for
Let’s hope everything goes tourism in order to protect
well.” De Cuba finalized. oceans and reduce cli-
mate change.q