C.W.U. Welcomes Port Takeover, Amid Concerns About Stevedores

Earlier today, the Christian Workers Union issued a release, following government’s announcement on Thursday that it will be nationalizing the Port of Belize Limited.  The statement goes on to say, “while the Christian Workers Union welcomes yesterday’s passage in the House of Representatives of the Port Acquisition and Settlement Deeds Bill 2023, C.W.U. remains focused on justice for the stevedores, as well as for the P.B.L. thirty-five, who were unjustly terminated by the Port of Belize Limited on July twenty-second, 2020”.  The union expressed relief that the agreement between G.O.B. and the Ashcroft Group will see the withdrawal of claims against the C.W.U.  An injunction that has barred the full distribution of ex-gratia payment made to stevedores is also being lifted.  Those waterfront workers were disadvantaged during the privatization of the port in 2002.  As we mentioned in our previous story, the Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal has also dismissed a claim brought by the C.W.U. against the Port of Belize Limited.  The C.W.U. has also expressed concern regarding thirty-five employees who were terminated from the Port of Belize in 2020, stating that it has persisted and complied with all orders from the Labor Commission Tribunal.  The union says it anticipates the decision of the LCT before Christmas.  The statement concludes by saying, “nationalization done improperly, without accountable and transparent negotiations with our members, will be a devastating repeat”.