All Demonstrations Are On Hold Pending Outcome of Dialogue

Marvin Mora

Following today’s meeting with Minister Hulse, another sit down has been scheduled with the management of the company before a decision can be met.  When asked if the intercession of the Labor Minister and the outcome of their presentation indicate a break in the impasse, Mora says not so fast.  The union is awaiting an update by mid-next week before deciding on a way forward.

Isani Cayetano

“Does this now signal or constitute a resumption in negotiations with B.E.L.?”

On the Phone: Marvin Mora, President, BEWU

“Well, we’re not sure yet because we have to get an update from him because he has to go back again to management.  We probably will get an update somewhere early next week by Tuesday or Wednesday, sometime then.”

Isani Cayetano

“Now what do you report to your membership with regards to the outcome of today’s meeting?”

On the Phone: Marvin Mora

“They will get all the details, you best believe that.  They will get everything because one of the things that we will be requesting from the membership and I’m sure they will understand is that we pause the demonstrations for the meanwhile until we get word from the minister.  Then we decide as a group, as a union.”

Isani Cayetano

“In terms of the workday which commenced at eight o’clock this morning, what was the climate or the atmosphere at B.E.L. seeing as though you guys were reporting back to work after three days of industrial action?”

On the Phone: Marvin Mora

“The climate whenever we have industrial situations like that, the climate is never really a pleasant one, you know, and we try to ignore that as much as possible but there is very little animosity between us and management, you know, because we are in negotiation really with the representatives of the company and not with management itself.  So with management we don’t really have that much animosity, we do have our issues that are still there and as time goes by we are definitely trying to work those out, you know.  But the climate is kinda lee tense at times given the present situation but in terms of us doing our work we are still comfortable. We would want to reassure the customers that if we intend to do anything other than we will definitely communicate that to the public and we are trying to exhaust all the avenues alright, because we do have a great appreciation for the customers that we serve.”

As we said, B.E.L. employees are demanding a two percent raise per annum over a four-year period.  They claim not to have received any adjustments since 2011.