B.W.U. workers strike

Word late this evening from Orange Walk is that workers for the Belize Sugar Industries are organizing a strike to protest the one day suspension of a Belize Workers Union official. A press release from B.W.U. says Vice-Chairman Thomas Chan was attempting to mediate a dispute arising from a grievance case brought against a worker last week. Apparently things became heated and the company then decided to discipline Chan for his conduct during the meeting by suspending him from duty. This, according to the union, despite the fact that the union apologized for what they termed the “disastrous” manner in which the settlement came about. News Five spoke with Thomas Chan who told us that he had asked two members of management about a witness who had been brought from Double Head Cabbage to testify against a worker. He says he had been informed that the worker had been paid for his trouble and says he asked the company officials who had authorized this and where the money came from. He claims he was told to mind his own business and when he couldn’t get an answer he became angry and there was an exchange of words. He says the manager later claimed he had threatened him and this is what led to his suspension today. Chan says that he was acting in his capacity as a union official and not an employee of B.S.I. and therefore the disciplinary action violates International Labor Organization Conventions, the Constitution of Belize and the Trade Union Act. He says the day shift workers walked out in support today, but he hopes the matter will be resolved quickly before there is a full-blown strike. Sources tell News Five the B.S.I. management was in a meeting late this afternoon to examine the issue. News Five has been told that a protest march is being organized for tomorrow in Orange Walk. Latest word from Tower Hill is that the night shift workers are off the job and the union is refusing to negotiate until Chan is reinstated.