Unions complain of illegal firing in Banana Belt

Belize’s union movement is up in arms tonight over what they claim is the illegal firing of banana workers. Christian Worker’s Union President James McFoy told News 5 that his union has been attempting to organise labourers at several farms and had been receiving strong support from employees in the industry. He claims that on Thursday seven workers were fired from Mayan King Ltd., a farm owned by Johnny Zabaneh, solely for the reason that they were encouraging fellow employees to join the union. Dismissing workers for union activity is illegal under Belizean law and the C.W.U. has been joined by the National Trade Union Congress and SPEAR in calling for the men’s reinstatement and the allowing of union organising. According to a union release, the seven have worked for Mayan King from four to seventeen years. News 5 was unable to reach Zabaneh and our calls to the Banana Growers Association were not returned.