Stevedores Claim Victimization After Being Skipped from Port Work

The Christian Workers Union (CWU) is having its own woes as stevedores are claiming that they were victimized by the Port of Belize Limited.  The union met earlier today in Belize City to discuss an incident on Saturday where thirteen stevedores were skipped from unloading a ship.  When asked why, the port administration explained that they had called them to work but there was no response.  According to CWU’s President Leonora Flowers, the stevedores dispute the port’s version of the events and says the port still cannot provide the proof that the men were contacted.

Leonora Flowers, President, CWU: “There were seven substitute to work. You have the group that should go first. If they don’t show up, then you call a second group. If the second group doesn’t show up, the port have said that they’ve called 13. Correct me, gentlemen? 13 men who didn’t show up to work.  And so we understand that those 13 men are saying, absolutely not. We did not get a text from the port. We did not get a call from the port. This was way around 11 to show up in the night and you cannot expect to say you will know put  people ahead, one, a group of substitute ahead of those 13 men who you  said you called. You did not call them. We have asked the port since this morning show us the text show us the message that you sent to these gentlemen that is the first line of defense. Send them a text to show up to work. They have not been able to do so.  As a substitute, you work some time once every two months and to miss out on a turn like they want to do.  Now they’ve just recently said they have taken two persons because those two persons work. But we realize that two of those persons who are our members are working twice over the three days, right? That is unconscionable when some people, if you miss your turn, you will not go back to work until another six or eight weeks.”

Love News reached out to the port and was told that they would provide the proof in short order. The PBL also said that the system has the work gangs in queue, and when one does not respond, then the other in line is called upon.  It added that the CWU needs to keep its members abreast of the system for clarity and compliance.