Port and union said to be near settlement

The stalemate at the Belize City port continued today, but sources close to the negotiations say progress toward a settlement has been made. Officials of the Christian Workers Union and the Port of Belize Limited have been engaged in marathon meetings since Tuesday afternoon, with inputs from the Commissioner of Labour, Paul Williams. Late this evening, both sides in the dispute, under advice from Williams to find common ground, were in consultations, the C.W.U with its members and Port C.E.O. Alberto Mahler with his board of directors. Sources at the bargaining table tell News 5 that a breakthrough in the impasse was within sight today, but a minor misunderstanding in interpretation by one side forced a settlement to be postponed. The workers, who have been on a work to rule since Monday, have stated their intention to walk off the job early in the new year if they are not paid a five percent Christmas bonus that they claim is owed to them. Mahler told News 5 that the disputed five percent bonus is not a part of the collective bargaining agreement between the C.W.U and the Port, and the company just cannot afford the bonus payment this year. Meanwhile, Mahler says he is receiving the support of some key workers–called scabs by the union–and that the Port will remain open tonight for merchants who want to clear goods. Late word from the port is that there is a possibility that the two sides will continue negotiating tonight and there is a strong likelihood that the dispute will be settled by tomorrow.