B.N.T.U. Hopes C.W.U./Port Impasse is Resolved

Elena Smith

On Thursday, the Belize National Teachers Union expressed its support for the Christian Workers Union which is currently at a standoff with the Port of Belize Limited over working hours of stevedores. The C.W.U. has initiated its twenty-one-day notice, prompting Minister of State responsible for Labor, Senator Carla Barnett to act as a mediator.  It is the hope of the government that both parties would find common ground to prevent strike action especially since the Port of Belize provides an essential service. B.N.T.U. National President, Senator Elena Smith also hopes that through discussion, the differences can be resolved.

Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.

“We are hoping that with that little breakthrough that they would come to the table and they would sit and discuss the matter. With negotiations, there has to be give and take. And you can’t go to the table and say we will talk about this first, and if we can’t get through with this that’s it; we are going to talk about nothing else. So we are hoping that it will work through for the C.W.U.”

The Public Service Union has also expressed its support for the C.W.U.