Today the Christian Workers Union gave the Port of Belize 21 days notice of intended strike action. The letter says they met with the Port Management 9 days ago on Monday March 27th when they agreed to resume negotiations. The Port said it would give a proposed date within a week. Well, the CWU says that one week deadline has passed, and they aren't playing; they have given notice of strike action - with an immediate go slow.

A letter from the CWU to the Minister of Labour insists that the first meeting will have to be held on or before April 12, 2017. The CWU notes both sides haven't met in 15 months, and they say that the proposed meeting in a week’s time is reasonable considering the extensive delay in returning to the table. The CWU says it will not accept any meeting date in May, 2017 because it considers the Port’s delays to be intentional, which, quote, “creates a lot of mistrust among the stevedores.â€￾

The Port of Belize CEO Arturo Tux Vasquez told us that his office today invited the CWU to a meeting for Friday April 7th.