C.W.U. Claims Good Faith Agreement Made Mandatory by P.B.L.

Evan ‘Mose’ Hyde

Going back to the initial agreement between the stevedores and their employer, C.W.U. president ‘Mose’ Hyde says that because that arrangement was not workable, they approached the shipping agent directly and struck a deal that was mutually beneficial.  He says that the Port of Belize took that good faith agreement and made it mandatory.

Evan ‘Mose’ Hyde, President, Christian Workers Union

“One gang, one ship.  They say we have to stop at fifteen hours, take a nine-hour rest and come back and finish it as they decided they were willing to agree.”

Reporter

“Then you all, because that proved thoroughly impractical, you all agreed on an undertaking, two gangs, one ship, speed things along.”

Evan Hyde

“I’m glad you asked the question because that brings us to an important thing.  We had completely abandoned any negotiations on this matter with P.B.L. because, as we were advised, when you are being litigated, you don’t negotiate.  But we decided, in the interest of our members, in the interest of the client, we had discussions directly with the client.  P.B.L. was not even present.”

Reporter

“You mean the shipping agent.”

Evan Hyde

“Yes.  What P.B.L. got was a hand-wrapped ribbon placed on their desk, goodwill.  We and the shipping agents have worked out a verbal thing, mek wih try wahn thing.  So what they did, P.B.L., was to take that gift and decided that, you know what, this now becomes an obligation, this becomes mandatory and I will make it mandatory because I have the money to make it mandatory and I have the ability to make sure that who has to stay on the sideline stays on the sideline and you can do nothing about it and unless you take it back, we will not allow you to work.”