C.W.U. Intervenes on Behalf of 2 Fired CitCo Employees
The uproar continues tonight over the terminations of six employees of the Belize City Council on Tuesday. They were sent home without warning and, according to at least one letter we’ve seen, no details about why exactly they’re being terminated. Amid the whispers of politics being involved, the Christian Workers’ Union is intervening on behalf of two of its members who were among the terminated: sanitation coordinator Cecil Jenkins and supervisor of parks and playgrounds Shana Whyte. They have sent notice to the Council outlining, as noted in a statement from president Evan “Mose” Hyde to News Five this afternoon, that due process was not afforded and that the union itself was not notified of any violations by affected members per the collective bargaining agreement. Hyde is a brother-in-law of Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner but has stated publicly that his primary interest is looking out for C.W.U.-affiliated workers. We spoke to Jenkins this afternoon about the impact of his termination and his contact with the Union.
Cecil Jenkins
Cecil Jenkins, Terminated
“All I know [is that] today, the ninth day of May, 2018, I am unemployed. I am unemployed, and I have responsibilities; I have bills; I have children that goes to school – I have four sons in college right now – and who very much expect their father to provide for their family, because I am the only breadwinner of the family at present. It just shows that politicians on a whole – when you have a plan for yourself and your family and you di try plan your family out and you di try make pension and you di plan everything in the future for yourself and your kids, they have the power in their hands that they can knock down any plans you have, your future; and this needs to stop. These things have been happening with any party, and we need to make a stand to this; we need to make this stop, like immediately. I must say that myself and one Miss Shana Whyte, we did approach the Christian Worker’s Union. We met with Mr. [Floyd] Neal, who is the General Secretary, who have also looked through our letters of termination and have seen whereby they have wrongfully done us in that respect of termination. Mr. Neal guided us through the process and told us that he will then write the Council on what he views that is not in the best interest of the employees and then he will take up the matter with the Council.”
According to Hyde’s statement, the C.W.U. is requesting an audience for its affected members to have the matter addressed as soon as possible. It warns that the proper protocol will be used to defend their rights.
