Something unusual in the union world: STT fought to keep SETAR director

ORANJESTAD — It is a rather uncommon situation in labor relations: a union that normally defends the interests of workers, this time applied pressure precisely to keep the company’s director in his position.

As Noticiacla reported this week, the Sindicato di Trahadornan den Telecomunicacion (STT) demanded clarity from the Government and the Supervisory Board regarding the future of SETAR managing director ir. Roland Croes, and stated that it wanted to see Croes remain at the head of the company for a longer period. The union even mentioned a two-year extension as a desirable option for SETAR’s continuity. In the meantime, the decision has been made that Croes will, for now, remain as director.

That position is notable because unions and management, in practice, often sit on opposite sides of the table in labor negotiations. In SETAR’s case, however, the union defended the continuity of the director, something that indicates that among an important part of the staff there is confidence in his experience and in the role he has played in the development of the company.

Croes has an exceptionally long history with SETAR. He has worked 36 years at the company and has been managing director since 2003, meaning 23 years at the helm. During SETAR’s 40-year existence, only five directors have led the company.

SETAR’s own history goes back to 1986, when Servicio di Telecomunicacion di Aruba was established after Status Aparte. Since then, the company has evolved from traditional telephony to internet, mobile, roaming, DSL, Wi-Fi and other digital services. In 2003, the same year Croes became managing director, SETAR became a public limited company with the Government of Aruba as its sole shareholder.

In an interview on NoticiaCla LIVE in February 2026, Croes indicated that his plan was to stay on for two more years after reaching retirement age, subject to approval by the Government and the Supervisory Board. He said he first needed to “round off” certain processes before retiring completely.

In that same interview series, Croes also recalled how SETAR changed under his leadership. He mentioned the WOW product as a key moment in the company’s history, because the introduction of that mobile digital service placed SETAR more firmly on Aruba’s technological map.

This week’s debate ended, at least for now, with the Government confirming that Croes will remain director. Minister Rene Herdé said that continuity, stability and the future of the company had to remain central in the decision.

What remains remarkable is the way the pressure emerged: not from the director seeking support from the workers, but from the workers, through their union, seeking support for the director.

In the union world, that is not something you see every day.