CWU president says collective bargaining agreement for stevedores still up in the air

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

In mid-August of last year during the apparent implosion of the union, negotiations for a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Port of Belize Limited on behalf of the stevedores came to a standstill.  The stevedores are one of nine entities represented by the CWU.  According to Audrey Matura-Shepherd, negotiations still have not resumed.

Isani Cayetano

“With regards to the negotiations between the CWU and the Port of Belize with regards to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, any progress on that front?”

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, President, Christian Workers Union

“We’ve not started that yet because we believe that as the new executive we have to learn a lot and we have to understand the process first before we begin.  But tomorrow we sign a bargaining agreement with CPBL, that was negotiated under the previous presidency but now it has been fine-tuned and we’re signing that tomorrow.  That’s going to be the first Collective Bargaining Agreement I get to sign as president but it’s really the work of my predecessors.”