Is B.E.L. Willing to Honor Union’s Salary Demands?

Marvin Mora

The break in negotiation has left a bitter taste in the mouth of the union.  Mora says if B.E.L. has no intention of adjusting the wages of its employees, it should come forward and say so openly.  Likewise, if the minister’s attempt at resolving the labor dispute fails then it is up to the membership of the BEWU to determine a subsequent course of action.

Marvin Mora, President, BEWU

“If the company is putting a lot of excuses to give us something it’s because they really don’t want to give us anything.  And if they don’t want to give us anything they don’t have to go and present any kind of argument.  All they needed to do is turn to their employees and tell their employees, “We don’t believe you deserve anything.  We don’t believe that you’ve earned anything so we’re not going to give you anything, period.  Story done.”  That’s all they have to do.”

Isani Cayetano

“Now if the of the Minister of Labor is unsuccessful what happens next?  This is your third day of protest, what’s to be expected?”

Marvin Mora

“Well, it’s up to the rest of the membership.  If the membership decide they want to step up the ratchet that’s what the membership will do.  The union is not me and the faces that you see out here.  This is the union, these and the other amount of employees weh deh at work right now di serve our customers and when they get enough of this it’s up to them to decide weh dehn wahn do.  [It’s] not up to me.”

At news time tonight, a meeting with Minister of Labor Godwin Hulse has been scheduled for two o’clock on Thursday afternoon.