Port of Belize Receiver surprised by protest

The Port of Belize Limited, however, says that a framework agreement was signed between the CWU and PBL on March twenty-third in respect of the negotiations of a collective bargaining agreement and that they are surprised at the actions of the stevedores and the CWU. The release says, “For the CWU to create industrial action in the middle of negotiations simply creates concern for the ongoing negotiation, with some loss of confidence in the negotiating process.” In regards to the allegations of foot dragging and the setbacks with meetings, Receiver for the Port of Belize Limited, Arturo Vasquez, disagrees. He says he has been at every meeting since the negotiations started and reiterated that the industrial action is counterproductive to the negotiation process.

Via Phone: Arturo Vasquez, Receiver, Port of Belize Limited

Arturo Vasquez

“It created a delay in the offloading or the loading rather of the sugar that is in the harbor. But it has a bigger effect on the confidence of the negotiations because it comes surprising to us; hence the reason why we are negotiating. We have had three meetings so far and all meetings we have agreed scheduled. In other words we meet, we discuss, we reschedule and we provide minutes and the minutes include the date of the next meeting and we’ve had meetings on those dates.  This last action that they took came two hours after the meeting was just concluded. In other words, you sit in a meeting, the president and everybody, you discuss things, you agree on certain things, you leave happy and then you realize that is an action going on. So it is surprising that the negotiations have been averted. That is not the way to negotiate. If you will want industrial action every time; that is pretty hard to deal with. What does that mean? That whenever the union is upset, they will create an industrial action. That is no way for a negotiation to proceed.”

Duane Moody

“With regards to the collective bargaining agreement: retirement, composition of the gang team, salary arrangements and insurance policy for the stevedores. Can those be met by PBL?”

Arturo Vasquez

“Well those are part of the negotiations and we have already discussed the retirement, the gang size and the retirement fund. We have both provided our proposals and those are the items that are on the table right now. I am hoping that we can continue to negotiate the way we are: providing our proposals and anti-proposals and discussing the proposals. But in negotiations, people aren’t always happy. That is what negotiations is about.”

As for the proposed deadline of August seventh for the Collective Bargaining agreement to be signed, Vasquez says that that the negotiations will determine whether it can be met.