Forgotten CWU Members Speak Out

Ever since the termination of several members of the Christian Workers Union from the Port of Belize Limited, tensions have run high between the two parties. Since then, the union has rallied for compensation to be paid to the employees that they believe were wrongfully terminated. And in October 2022, the Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal ruled in favor of the union, ordering sugar redundancy payments to be made to the stevedores by the Port. That payment has yet to be made to the stevedores, but that is not the only issue that remains unresolved. Today, the Christian Workers Union held a meeting, where grievances were aired out about the remaining thirty-five employees that were dismissed from their positions but who were not included in the court ruling made in 2022. According to them, all they want is a resolution. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Currently, the Christian workers Union and the Government of Belize are negotiating the payment owed to the union for the termination of several employees back in 2021. According to CWU President, Leonora Flowers, the union is awaiting a proposal from the government on the matter.

Leonora Flowers

Leonora Flowers, President, C.W.U.

“On the eighth of December when government took over the port, all our matters were taken over by the government and so that means too that the debt now rests with the government. So we’re, we have approached the interim board that they put in place and we’ve had an initial meeting with them and then we had another meeting which they are going to give us a proposal on what they propose to put on the table. We will get that on the fifteenth of February. So that is where we are.”

Flowers stated that the union is hopeful of meeting a resolution soon regarding the stevedores termination. However, another issue remains unresolved. Thirty-five staff workers were also dismissed at the time, which consist of security, warehouse, dock, and admin and maintenance department employees. According to the union, these employees’ terminations were overshadowed by that of the stevedores who were able to seek justice from Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal. According to Former employees, it was difficult to renter the work force as they claim that as union members, they were blacklisted. They claim that those terminated are still struggling to get their feet back on the ground.

Wayne Lambey

Wayne Lambey, Former Employee, Port of Belize Ltd.

“Look at our world. We don’t want to make noise. We don’t want to have that old idea that the wheel that makes the most noise gets the oil. We are saying, reach us before we start crying. Come on, have a sit down and then whatever options are there, whether reinstatement compensation  and let this thirty-five know because people are working, but it’s not the best job to have. I imagine you gave up sixteen years of your life to start all over again from nothing. Where we had single mothers, we had single fathers who were working and we are men on the day off who got texts that you are no longer, your service is no longer required without any other explanation. So that is my appeal. My appeal is to ask the tribunal and the government to have a heart, have a conscience, bring up the thirty-five case, have a conclusion to the matter, and we will all be okay again.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.