CWU Grows Frustrated Over Delays in Response from Essential Services Tribunal

In related news involving the Christian Worker Union, it has been five months since the Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal ESAT has been convened to settle a dispute between the union and the Port of Belize Limited (PBL). CWU President Leonora Flowers says that the chairman of the ESAT has been writing formal letters to local media houses, yet they fail to respond to the union. The president issued a warning to PBL earlier today, indicating that the union members are growing impatient.

Leonora Flowers, President, CWU: “We don’t know what’s happening with the finances of the port and they continue to say they can’t give a raise. They’re not filing any finances. They’re a company. They’re not filing any reports. We don’t know what they make. They said they’re not making money so they can’t give a raise. The only raise they promised to give was $3 on $12 for a meal. No salary adjustment, no nothing for the stevedores, no increase in container rates. 20 foot container, 40 foot container has been forever at the same rate. The stevedores are asking for a salary adjustment. Nothing out of the ordinary. Everyone is asking for that right about now. We’ve started this negotiation almost a year ago, last year, June, and we’re still here waiting and ESAT has had us waiting since before the elections. Now we have been waiting way before the elections and we have not gotten even a line, not even a sentence out of the ESAT, the Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal. They are lacking. They have slipped down. They have turned their backs on the stevedores and on CWU. It is time for them to come back to the table, go back to the board, drawing board, go back to your rooms,  and bring back the decision from the ESAT. We are tired of waiting the Stevedores, CWU  requires a response from you.  This is not the time to pick a fight with the Stevedores. I’ll say that especially to the Port of Belize and its management. This is not the time to pick a fight  with the Stevedores. Everybody wants what’s theirs and the Stevedores are asking for attention. Give us the salary adjustment that we’ve asked. Consider that we’ve waited quite a number of years. Consider that the CBA needs to be concluded as soon as possible. And we remain open and willing to dialogue with the port.”

Love News understands that to date, the ESAT has not made any formal submissions on the matter to the Labour Department or Commissioner. For context, the union has been lobbying for a wage adjustment for the stevedores, after BSI/ASR had taken majority of its business to the Big Creek Port.  It was a move that prompted the stevedores via the CWU to compensate for the monies lost.   It is to be noted that back in January, the CWU had issued an intent to strike, but they were pacified somewhat when the ESAT reconvened in February.  The composition of the ESAT has three of its members appointed by the government, one member appointed by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and one appointed by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry