CWU ACCUSES PORT OF BELIZE LIMITED OF ARBITRARILY LAYING OFF WORKERS

January 24, 2007

The Christian Workers Union today issued a news release accusing the Port of Belize Limited of arbitrarily laying off workers.The C-W-U describes the action as arbitrary because it feels the Union and the Port of Belize has an agreement in place that disallows that undertaking. General Secretary of the C-W-U, James McFoy explained to Love News why the C-W-U feels that is the case.

James McFoy: General Secretary of the C-W-U

“According to the Collective agreement that we have where there is a change and where there is redundancy occur because we know that at the Port in 2004/2005 when we had changes that took place and more so when we had the uprising etc and we came to an agreement a Memorandum of Understanding that the collective agreement between the then agent which was the body that took care of the whole operation of the Stevedores. Then under the M-O-U we agreed yes the Port will control but then the agreement will remain as it is until a new agreement is signed. And whatever under that redundancy clause in the agreement suppose to be upheld. Now what we found out, they call it some restructuring redundancy at some cases taking your personal files there by they are singling out workers and terminating them, under the guise of redundancy. We are of the opinion that we with consultation which is in the agreement also that consult with the union and then we can say how we can work out or agree to some sort of solution or which ever. The Port now is disregarding the M-O-U whereby the agreement remaining until a new agreement is signed which has not happened. We know the cause of that not taking place then the old one is suppose to remain. So our position is because of not a single case but because of the trend of the behavior and because of not consulting and because of not abiding to our letters where we requested a meeting we decided to go to a press release.”

McFoy says since January of 2006 the C-W-U has been requesting meetings with the management of Port of Belize Limited and a meeting will take place tomorrow between both parties.

James McFoy:General Secretary of the C-W-U

“There is a proposal with them; as a matter of fact we are supposed to have a meeting tomorrow whereby we suppose to start to negotiate.”

Marion Ali:Love FM

“So why issue a press release one day before that meeting takes place?”

James McFoy:General Secretary of the C-W-U

“Because this is regards to let us talk negotiation to bring an agreement which I said we have so many times been trying to have a meeting to have this agreement in place. So the bottom line is whether we have a new agreement or not the old agreement remains, so that is not here nor there whether we agree to an agreement tomorrow or the day after that has nothing to do with what  we are talking about.”

Marion Ali: Love FM

“Ok so what are you talking about at this point Mr. McFoy?”

James McFoy: General Secretary of the C-W-U

“Consultation let know what your plan is so that the union don’t have to react after your action that is all we are asking.”

Marion Ali: Love FM

“How many people are affected by this?”

James McFoy: General Secretary of the C-W-U

“We don’t know how many people because I said it is a trend, one two and now three four and that is the trend. As far as we can recall that three people back to back have been given the same type of letter saying that you have become redundant because of restructuring it happened this year and one is enough for us to take concern two is more for us to take concern."

James McFoy, General Secretary of the Christian Workers’ Union.  Love News contacted the Port of Belize Limited for their side of the issue but Chief Executive Officer, Reynaldo Guerrero, was out of the office and his Deputy, Francine Waight, was in a meeting.

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