PM Says Workers Have a Right to Strike as Long as It is Done Peacefully.

The freedom to take industrial action is a legal right afforded to all laborers, providing that such protest is held without incident.  According to Prime Minister John Briceño, while the waterfront workers did not forego their right to strike, they have agreed that no such action will be taken before the conclusion of a collective bargaining agreement due in mid-2023.

John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We have a right to strike in this country, as long as it’s done peacefully.”

Reporter

“Did the stevedores sign away their right to strike, protected under international conventions, by the signing of that M.O.U. with the government?”

John Briceño

“No, they did not and it’s not in the agreement… But what they have agreed to is that there will be no more strikes between now until the negotiations of the next [C.B.A.] which is due sometime, I think it is around June or the middle of next year, 2023.  …what they have agreed to is that they will sit down with P.B.L. to be able to work out the issues.  Remember there was a tribunal that was set up and so they are saying okay, let’s work out our differences between now and the middle of next year we’re going to have a new collective bargaining agreement.”