2 weeks ago
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The Belize Communications Workers for Justice, BCWJ, say they are growing frustrated after a follow-up meeting with Belize Telemedia Limited executives ended without the progress they had hoped for. The meeting, held yesterday at the Labour Department, comes one week after workers expressed optimism when BTL’s leadership agreed in principle to pay severance in a lump sum. However, tensions resurfaced when executives reportedly indicated that any payment would be made without interest, a position the workers group strongly oppose. Former BTL employee Emily Turner spoke with the media following the session, describing the latest discussions as disappointing. Turner says the group maintains a firm mandate from its members, including a six-percent component they believe is justified, and insists the workers remain committed to seeking a fair resolution without resorting to the courts.
Emily Turner, Former BTL Employee: “We basically had to discuss what the interest rate would be on this severance. When BTL had approached us last week when we came it was only severance and no interest rate. The interest rate had been paid for the employees that were within six years at 6%. The people that went for litigation they also got 6%. And when BTL came they said their board had approved no interest rates. We came down from our position of 6% to give them a leeway to be able to meet us somewhere, but they are very far from that percentage. And you know the value of money has changed drastically between 1994 and 2025. We did our calculations on that, we ran the models and basically that money would have appreciated by 71 percent and we are not saying 71 percent we’re saying use this use a standard rate that the courts give. We don’t feel like at this point demanded that the board has given to the BTL executive team that came to meet with us, that the board is not being fair with us and so these discussions are no longer being done in good faith. Last week I think when we when we spoke, we told you guys that we felt that, you know, they were being genuine, it was being done in good faith but we don’t feel like we are there anymore. BTL employees have waited these 32 years, they have been waiting for this severance and so we are trying to keep all of us out of court but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to be going to go that way. And we’re trying to make sure that we don’t go again, have to take to the streets again but that is the direction we will have to take. We will have to continue protesting because we’re not making much leeway.”
Despite the disagreement, the dialogue between the parties will continue through the Labour Department to push for an amicable settlement. Labour Senator Glenfield Dennison, who has been observing the talks, also weighed in on the negotiations, suggesting the company should carefully consider the workers’ concerns.
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator: “There’s a big joke because there’s actually a severance case brought by the illegal consul on behalf of his father. It’s in the records. And in the claim he made the claim for 6% and costs, you understand? So it’s like, like talk to me real if you want to talk to me. And I think Emily’s feeling is my read of it too. I don’t think it’s in good faith. I think they are trying to get out of this with paying to the people as least as possible and that is not a favorable position for somebody who seems to don’t understand that they have a PR problem. BTL, the board of the DIGI has a PR problem and they are not managing it at all. Like how will you tell workers that the value that you were supposed to get in 1995, like we don’t want to adjust anything on that for you, take your money you were supposed to get in 1995 hold here, see it there. If this was a corporate and the role was reversed they would demand their 6%. So I think the workers and the leaders of the BCWJ are flexing and BTL is being inflexible. I don’t know, I wish I could be a fly in that boardroom because I can’t understand how they don’t understand what’s happening.”
The BCWJ says it is now considering additional protest action as discussions continue.
English (US) ·