Port C.E.O. Says Stevedores’ Pension Can’t be Retroactive

The point of contention that led to the strike by the stevedores was a pension plan. The stevedores want an increase to six percent retroactive to 2004. While the Port has agreed to the six percent, C.E.O. Vasquez says that their position is that it cannot be retroactive to the past eleven years. The discussions, however, will continue at a meeting scheduled for next Tuesday.

Arturo “Tux” Vasquez, C.E.O./Receivership, Port of Belize

“I think that it is the position of the Port that it was never to retroact the pension and as we speak that will have to remain our position to this point. But that is not to say that there are not other alternatives. As I had said before, for retirees, it is quite possible that something else can be looked at. In negotiations, of course you give on some and you take on some. But we don’t have anything necessarily right now to say. What we know is that the retroactive mater, as the document states, it is not the position that the Port can take at this time.”

Arturo “Tux” Vasquez

Duane Moody

“However, the arrangement made is that this will remain on the negotiating table until a final CBA is made?”

Arturo “Tux” Vasquez

“Yes, well the discussion we had was that and I do agree with that. We need to take the pension to the end. As it is we had decided in the negotiations that they wanted to get the pension done and we wanted to get the house of work done and we will remain at that. And that is to say that as soon as we are finished with the pension, we would want the house of work to be completed as well. So those are two critical things and again we are negotiating. You give, I give. You get what you want, I get what I want.”