On Friday's news, we told you about the very strong letter that the Belize Energy Workers Union sent to Labour Minister Godwin Hulse threatening industrial action. In that letter dated September third, they said, quote, "Union membership is of the general opinion that the BEWU will have to take industrial action leading up to a general strike in order for our demands to be met by an inflexible, inconsiderate and disrespectful employer." That's hard talk and today we asked the Union's General secretary Marvin Mora if they are still holding that line:..
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"We are at the point where we are awaiting still even though the general membership now is taking raise on the situation, but we are still awaiting and hopeful that BEL would do the right thing and provide us with something that is significant and that is fair in terms of what the proposals are that was placed on the table."
Jules Vasquez
"What has been your communication from the Minister of Labor? Have you all backed off that very hardline you took in that letter?"
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"Remember that the union itself has an executive. The executive is still engaged. We are still awaiting that something can occur that would yield better results through the diplomatic process. But the diplomatic process as you know is not the only process that unions can utilized to get what they are seeking for. So meanwhile we are hopeful and I can tell you now really the hope is diminishing, we are hopeful that something can happen where management of the company will say man, lets avoid all of this hassle and lets just give our employees what they rightfully deserve and give us something significant so that we can move on with this issue. But at the end of the day, if they don't then I don't believe that we will be able to hold back the membership from making a decision that will ultimately culminate in some form of industrial action."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you all giving any timeframe Mr. Mora?"
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"We were expecting him from yesterday. We are already Tuesday and he has not communicated anything to the president, not that I know of. I don't how far the membership will go, but that's really entirely up to the major consensus with the union."
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