Stevedores continue protest against Port

Employees of the Belize Waterfront Association represented by the Christian Workers Union were back on the picket lines again today. And while the number of placard bearing disgruntled employees continues to grow, the dispute between the Port of Belize Limited and C.W.U. remains unresolved. But there might be some light at the end of the tunnel. Today for the first time, majority owner of the Port, Luke Espat, sat down with the union to begin the process of settling the dispute. The talks, mediated by Minister of National Development Assad Shoman, took place this afternoon in Belmopan. President of the C.W.U., Antonio Gonzales, says no agreement was reached, but the parties agreed to the ground rules for advancement toward a settlement. Gonzalez says Port representatives agreed to hand over draft proposals tomorrow, which the union is to consider and put to its membership for consideration. While the union is scheduled to meet with its membership tomorrow morning in Belize City, Gonzalez says the draft proposals will not have been sufficiently vetted for them to be voted on by the stevedores. Tomorrow’s meeting will include a presentation by an attorney to let the CWU members know what is the legal status of the situation between the port owners and the union.