At noon today, The Belize Energy Workers union declared that it will go on strike tomorrow - that's after talks with BEL Management broke down last night. But the breaking news tonight is that the strike may be averted. That's after the Prime Minister met with the union this afternoon at his Coney Drive office. That's the very latest, and we'll tell you all about it shortly - but we begin with last night's meeting. It was held at the Ministry of Labour in Belmopan - and at around 10:00 pm, talks broke down, when, the union claims, Management refused to give anymore and held to its position. With that the Union consulted its membership this morning and agreed to go on strike. General Secretary Marvin Mora appeared at noon in front of BEL's Corporate Headquarters backed up by his executive:...
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"Our membership suggested a strike tomorrow and it is over 50% of the union countrywide who have accepted that preposition. So, unless we don't get any resolution to our situation then the union will have to effectuate that strike tomorrow."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Give us an idea in numbers?"
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"In terms of our numbers, we are about 147-148 employees."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"This is a strike by 50% of those employees in the union. Give us an idea of the impact to BEL services?"
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"We are not expecting half. Actually right now we have received confirmation from over 80% of the union and that means that because of how the union operate, we are also expecting everybody else to comply. It's either they stand with the union or they stand against the union, with management."
Reporter
"BEL is consider an essential service. Now how will that square away with the legalities of an industrial action?"
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"As you all know Chapter 297 of the laws of Belize puts the entire responsibility on the shoulders of the minister once he has intervene. He has already intervene and we are almost at the end of the process and we have not seen any movement on behalf of BEL. So obviously the union now is well within its rights to effectuate that strike."
Reporter
"How the strike will impact services you imagine or you expect?"
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"Honestly we are talking about the two major services that BEL provide; one, is the transmission and distribution and the other one is the customer service and so far we have received very much support from both of those areas which means that those two areas will see little or no service."
Jules Vasquez
"Should be expect blackouts tomorrow?"
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"I wouldn't believe so. But it is something that may eventually happen because it is the very same people that will go on strike if it does happen - that the people who will put back the light if the lights goes. That's basically what we are making reference to."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you all intent to forcing a crisis or pushing this to a head, because you know that we are only 36 days away from election and in an election time all squeaky wheels have to be oiled immediately?"
Marvin Mora, General Secretary - BEWU
"To be honest to you Jules, the union has worked the system. We have been more than patience. Our people have been asking for a strike from before September, at the beginning of September and it has been the executive who have always hold on to the hope that the diplomatic process would work. But apparently, that is yielding no results. So, the membership now are taking the charge and they are the ones that are requesting that strike. It's either BEL move off their position or we will have to do what we have to do."
The union sent the press a text after that fiery interview - calling on the Prime Minister to intercede - and by 4:00 pm - they were called up to his Coney Drive office faster than you can say, "election di cohn." They left shortly after in this pickup truck and when we inquired about the outcome of the meeting, Mora told us via text, quote, "It's looking good, but our union wants it in black and white so we are heading to Belmopan to the labour minister's office. He concludes, and this is the important part: "once we sign our members will call off the strike." That was at 5:30 pm, so we're waiting on word from Belmopan. Right now, it's wait and see - but there might not be much to see in terms of a strike because BEL sent out a release half an hour ago. It says, quote, "BEL and the Belize Energy Workers Union have reached points of agreement on negotiations of salaries and benefits, subject to ratification by both parties later this evening."
It continues, quote, "The Prime Minister of Belize this afternoon intervened to mediate the process and held discussions with BEL and the B-E-W-U...
The Company is hopeful that a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed this evening by both parties at a meeting scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Ministry of Labour in Belmopan. This should pave the way for completion of negotiations for a revised Partnership Collective Agreement in the coming weeks."
Big development late in the evening, and it should put to rest any possibility of a strike tomorrow.
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