In August, it made headlines when CWU President Antonio Pancho Gonzalez, under extreme pressure from the stevedores, agreed to an annual general meeting on October 26, 2013. He said that audited financials would be presented and that he would not run for office again.
Fast forward two months - and we are on the doorstep of October 26th - and, guess, what, moves are afoot to delay the meeting! On Friday a meeting of the representatives of 15 department and firms where CWU has members, 13 voted to put off the AGM until next year February. That's because the financials still aren't ready, the union is nearly broke and it can't afford an AGM.
Well, the stevedores aren't having it, and neither is the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. The NTUCB sent out a release this weekend saying, quote, "reliable reports have reached us, that the CWU is abandoning their proposal to convene the Congress...A word of caution to the bargaining units of the CWU - be forewarned, that since the existing "executives" has not lived up to its legal obligations, under Chapter 304 0f the laws of Belize, you run the risk of being decertified should you proceed with endorsing this evolving CWU proposal."
The stern release adds, quote, "All CWU bargaining units - be notified too, that the NTUCB categorically disassociates itself, from the undertakings being advanced by the current administration of the CWU."
And lastly, it says, quote, "should the CWU fail to convene the Congress that it had publicly committed to, on October 26, 2013; the NTUCB declares that the CWU will be immediately expelled from the Congress."
That's heavy and it's given the stevedores fuel to back up their hardline position which they ventilated today at a press conference which they held at the union headquarters - against the protests of President Antonio Gonzalez. They told us why Saturday will see an AGM, "no matta what":..
Dion "Ras" Pitta, Shop Steward - Stevedores
"We object to the whole process. We are sticking to the 25th October to have our congress."
Dale Trujeque, Stevedores' nominee for President
"These people are resiling from a position they took back in August; that is a meeting that was chaired by the NTUCB, that is a meeting we have recorded in its entirety - Gons agreed."
Jules Vasquez
"So, what will happen on the 26th?"
Dion "Ras" Pitta, Shop Steward - Stevedores
"On the 26th we are supporting the National Trade Union Congress of Belize release because if we don't have this on the 26th - we could get de-certified and we will not have any bargaining power. We have to respect this."
"We must disrespect the National Trade Union Congress who is our protector and guide to allow Mr. Gons to run his ship. You read the press release from National Trade Union Congress? They are lamenting on the administration and the position he took after he already took a position that we will come to a congress on the 26th. That is disrespect."
Raymond Rivers, Shop Steward - Stevedores
"The 26th is the 26th - that us union busting because if the Trade Union is telling that on the 26th you have to have this and they don't want, then they are union busters."
Dale Trujeque, Stevedores' nominee for President
"No, we are not going to allow them to resile from their position. We are not going to allow them to use the argument that they need $13,000 to have a congress. We already have the venue and we are telling the members to come. It's not about me and Nelson Young - if the people fear us then they should put their own candidates forward. They had a week and they didn't do it. We are still telling them that they still have time."
Raymond Rivers, Shop Steward - Stevedores
"If you put the cameras in here; they cut out the light, the water and the internet. They owed 2 months' rent for here. We are not telling a lie, you can ask the secretary. Sometime there is no light in here and now we must say yes boss you do a good job, stay a couple more months - no you have to go now!"
Dion "Ras" Pitta, Shop Steward - Stevedores
"On Friday Mrs. Carmen Reneau threatened to expel us - telling us that they will kick us out."
Raymond Rivers, Shop Steward - Stevedores
"You are talking about over 1.8 million dollars gone missing and you are telling me to go home and sleep - you have a mental problem."
Jules Vasquez
"Everything you all step into you all want to fight with. So now, you all formed an agreement and that gone down, but then you all have to go with what the majority says. How do you respond to that?"
Dion "Ras" Pitta, Shop Steward - Stevedores
"Jules, with the evidence that is out there, with the report that is out there, with the over 10 years of no financial report, no nothing - Jules, with my constitution I stand up against the 13 of them and what my constitution says, because this is my number - this is my weapon - this is my guide and this is their guide also, not only I. This is CWU guide."
"For all those years, you all will look at us like we are doing something wrong? I will stick to my constitution and I will stick to the National Trade Union Congress and we will promote that we will have our election on the 26th of October. I am calling on all the members of the 15th entity - you all come out and cast your vote and for the people who is acting like they want to control this thing - you can bring out your candidate because this is democracy. We don't have any problem with that we won't get de-certified from under this any at all."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, then we will run into a problem of having 2 parallel executive."
Raymond Rivers, Shop Steward - Stevedores
"Each stevedore knows that we pay $30,000 every year, so if Mr. Gonzalez tries to come back or say anything - we will sue him for $300,000 - 30 X 10 years, because we want our money and then we will leave this union."
The Stevedores have nominated Trujeque as their president and Nelson Young as their General Secretary.
We asked Trujeque why not just wait until February 2014 as the other member groups are suggesting:..
Dale Trujeque, Stevedores' nominee for President
"Go for the election now!. There is no need to look for money that is not there. I only advised - the compromise - that we will wait. Basil insisted to do the financials first - no financials. So, why should these men, why should their members, why should all the members believe that this thing will happen in February."
"They said why we should wait until February, because some of are going through critical negotiations. The stevedores suspended their negotiation which was going on at the time in August just so they can deal with this."
"One negotiation with CWU lasted almost 4 years. What will you tell me that we will extend until February, then til March, then May and then June?"
The NTUCB release says, quote, "The NTUCB can no longer tolerate the representation the CWU purports to be making for its units, knowing that the CWU is not fulfilling its legal obligations."
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