BEWU and B.E.L. reach agreement on salary adjustments

After weeks of tension between the Belize Electricity Limited and the Belize Energy Workers Union, tonight the two parties have come to an agreement. In a joint press release issued today, the utility company and the union report that all employees in the bargaining unit will receive a total salary adjustment of eight percent: two point five percent effective June first, 2006; another two point five percent effective June first 2007; two percent effective June first, 2008, and one percent effective June first 2009. And while it appears that B.E.W.U. got a major coup by receiving almost double the four point five percent they were requesting, they had to relent in making the raises retroactive to 2000. The compromise paved the way for the signing of the collective bargaining agreement and it was further agreed that the document would next be reviewed in 2011. By phone this afternoon, B.E.W.U. President Shawn Nicholson told News Five that he is happy that the company and the union were able to work out their differences. Helping to broker the deal were the Labour Commissioner and his Deputy.