CWU Says labor Department Not Honoring Commitment to Mediate
The Christian Workers Union is accusing the Labor Department of breaking a commitment to continue mediation with the Port of Belize limited. Today during a press conference at union headquarters in Belize City, the union said that after the C.W.U. submitted its notice of intended strike action against P.B.L. in mid July, the Labor Department had committed to mediating negotiations between both parties. An Essential Services Tribunal was then established to rule on matters directly impacting the stevedores, namely the requested sugar redundancy package, and the enlisting of new stevedores. Now, according to the President of the Union, Mose Hyde, the Labor Department is saying that they will not engage in negotiations on the two matters unless the Union rescinds its position on the twenty days notice. President Hyde is calling on the department to show the union where this is outlined in the Laws of Belize as a requirement.
Mose Hyde, President, CWU
Mose Hyde
“We have had multiple scenarios prior to this one, where even though we had the twenty-one days notice in effect, we were still engaged under the Ministry of Labor and we negotiated. So, we were told that essential services tribunal has been chosen, has been put together, and the Ministry of Labor has indicated, by law, they are not able to participate in that negotiation. We are to put forward a submission to the essential services tribunal, a binding tribunal where a panel of five people will then look at our submission and PBL submission. They will then have their ruling. Now, we have committed to our members and a commitment was given publically that there would be a negotiation as it relates to sugar redundancy. So, we feel to be told that we cannot facilitate because the essential tribunal have been put in place, at the very least, we deserve to know which part of the law dictates that. We have asked, we have yet to receive.”
We reached out to Labor Commissioner, Ann Marie Thompson who told us that we can expect a press release after she reveals the details of the Union’s concerns.
