P.S.U. to Get Prime Property for Hilltop Settlement
The Public Service Union and the Belmopan City Council have buried the ‘Hilltop’ hatchet. They have reached a settlement in the form of another piece of property. Today, the P.S.U. says that they have received a prime location and good value in the agreement that will be signed later this week. As you’ll recall, the P.S.U. and Belmopan City Council have been at odds because the council sold the Hilltop property in Belmopan right from under the union’s nose. The matter was later taken before the courts and the terms of this agreement came out of the mediation. When we spoke with First Vice-President Dean Flowers today, we asked him about this settlement which comes days after the union agreed to forgo increments as part of cost saving measures with the government. So did the Union give in to get a headquarters? Here’s what he has to say about the matter.
On the Phone: Dean Flowers, First Vice-President, P.S.U.
“There was a case filed against the Belmopan City Council for what we deemed to have be an unjust or unlawful disposal of the Hilltop property. As a result, we entered in mediation and I am pleased to report that the PSU and the Belmopan City Council has reached an agreement, out of court as settlement for what we believe was a wrong done to the union.”
Andrea Polanco
“When you say settlement, are you able to share the details?”
On the Phone: Dean Flowers
“In summary, I can say that we have been offered an alternate piece of property. We are satisfied with the location of that property. We are satisfied with the value of that property and we look forward to moving forward in establishing a head office and to carrying on the business of the union. We are working out the final details of the agreement. It is my humble view that the agreement should be signed off on at the end of this week. We can then part ways and then of course notify the courts that we are withdrawing the matter.”
Andrea Polanco
“I know that it has been something that was drawn out for a while and it seemed like you guys were unable to reach an agreement; what do you think made this possible?”
On the Phone: Dean Flowers
“What made this possible, I think was the excellent work was the council for the P.S.U., as well as the council of the city council. I must condemn them for the excellent work they did in arriving at a settlement. That both parties are amenable to. The PSU primary role and objective is to protect the interest of workers and to ensure that the terms and conditions under which they are employed is acceptable. We are not in the business of litigation and we are not in the business of jugging on fights especially with an entity such as the Belmopan City Council which has little or nothing to do with workers that we represent.”
Andrea Polanco
“Did that in any way influence your decision as it relates to the matters with the PM?”
On the Phone: Dean Flowers
“Absolutely not. Two completely different set of negotiations and two completely different parties with whom we were in negotiations. So, one had absolutely nothing to do with the other.”
Andrea Polanco
“Now, you have this happening just days later, you don’t think it gives a sort of impression or leaves it open to multiple interpretations by the public?”
On the Phone: Dean Flowers
“(Laughs) I think that, that that isn’t the case. I can say that for months the P.S.U. has been in discussions with the Belmopan City Council even before COVID-19 and so the fact that we’re this close to signing off on an agreement where Hilltop is concerned which happens coincidentally within the timeframe in which initial agreement with Government where the increment is concerned is mere coincidence.”
