Unions promise “response” if B.T.L. workers aren’t rehired

Today union activists upped the ante in the continuing face off between Belize Telecommunications Limited and the local labour movement, with executives publicly setting a deadline for the reinstatement of all four fired employees. But as News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports, it’s unclear what will happen when the timeline expires.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
At noon today employees of Belize Telecommunications Limited and Belize Water Services, teachers, and public service workers assembled at the Constitution Park on Cemetery Road for what was dubbed “A Worker’s Solidarity Rally”.

Paul Perriott
“What we decided to do out here is to call, to get the unions to come out and unite. The unions, the people, the teachers, the public service workers need to start bringing their people online with what is happening because we don’t have enough support. But we need the people to be here, but we need the people to be here, we need the support.”

B.T.N.U. Member
“B.T.L. and everybody else with them could not follow rules and they cannot follow law, so why must we? And our excuse will be we cannot abide by the law because we noh have no comprehension skills! [crowd cheers] Teachers can’t, the teachers can’t add, the teachers can’t comprehend.”

The event was organised by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize.

George Frazer
“We are not a violent people, but we will still no allow anybody to step on us! Will you?”

Crowd
“NO!”

George Frazer, Assistant General Sec., N.T.U.C.B.
“We decided to call this short rally during the lunch hour to update all our union workers and even other workers out there about what’s going and we want them to understand that the Trade Union Congress is in solidarity with the Belize Communication Worker’s Union. We are demanding as the law dictates that sister Christine Perriott, the General Secretary of the B.C.W.U. and the other three workers that were recently terminated to be reinstated.”

Today, the N.T.U.C.B called for the reinstatements to take place by midday on Monday … or else.

George Frazer
“We will look at that and see what happens and again we are taking the opportunity to call on the government. We hope even before the day is out that some definitely statement and action will be done.”

Kendra Griffith
“Does the government though have any way of forcing BTL to take Christine back? Do they have recourse?”

George Frazer
“There are. The I.L.O. convention, including convention ninety-eight, which has to do with collective bargaining is there. The other rulings of pass cases taken to the I.L.O. is clear that the government should step in when anti-union activities, victimisation of union leaders, and things are taking place. So it is clear, our government, our country has signed onto these conventions and so there is no excuse.”

And if that course of action does not work, Christine Perriott has backup plans. For starters, she filed a grievance with the B.T.L.’s management shortly after her dismissal.

Christine Perriott
“At this time yes, the grievance has been filed, but that is going to go in it’s own according, while the lawsuit is there that I am working on and other measures.”

So you have filed a lawsuit?

Christine Perriott
“I haven’t filed it as yet, all the other evidence and stuff is being gathered.”

And while she builds her case, Perriott maintains her job is no longer the issue.

Christine Perriott [Speaking to crowd]
“If you don’t stand up, your right is through the door, unionism through the door. All of us, we stand, just like I am taking a lick, I am just at the forefront taking the first lick, but the other licks are coming at you.”

Christine Perriott
“For me the important thing is to have this company, to have Ashcroft respect the laws, respect our rights, our fundamental rights of freedom of association, freedom of expression, to join a union, and without being intimidated, without being threatened, without being disciplined, because we are doing legitimate union activities. … the government got to act, because if anything happens it will be their fault.”

It is uncertain exactly what will happen come noon on Monday, but what we do know is that some progress has been made in the B.C.W.U.’s trade dispute and that the impending strike has officially been called off.

Paul Perriott, President, B.W.C.U.
“We received a letter on Wednesday from the Labour Department saying that the arbitration will be called effective Monday, so we are in the process of putting together our arbitrators that will be representing us, the workers and on Monday that should be empanelled. … We are confident that what we have will prove our case and I believe it will be up to the arbitration panel to decide what will be the outcome of it, but we feel strongly that what we’ve been saying all along is right.”

Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

It should be noted that while Perriott has been fired from B.T.L., her termination does not affect her status as General Secretary of the Belize Communication Workers Union.

And while our fax machine has been flooded with releases in support of Perriott and the union, today the Radisson Fort George Hotel sent one protesting statements made by union reps. According to general manager Jim Scott, the B.N.T.U.’s call for a boycott of the hotel is unwarranted as Michael Ashcroft no longer has shares in the business. The statement goes on to say that management will hold the union responsible for any loss suffered as a result of those statements.