7 News Belize

Stevedores Say They Were Locked Out On Day 21
posted (June 30, 2023)
And from one union to another, the Christian Workers Union was today still deliberating what to do about the end of their 21 day notice to strike.

But it seems the Port wasn't taking any chances and this morning as it held staff celebrations for its 30th anniversary a decision seems to have been made to lock stevedores out.

7News was there this morning when one member of the negotiating team realized he wouldn't be able to walk through the gate.

There were a few eyebrows raised this morning when CWU members learned that the cops had been told to patrol the port.

That's after Bruce Diaz, a member of the CWU's negotiation team tried to complete the mundane task of picking up his pay slip. We were there as he called the C.E.O. to ask why he wasn't being let in.

Bruce Diaz, Negotiating Team
"Unu gat , a what? Staff activity right now."

Phone:
"We have a staff activity, so my office wouldn't be able to serve you."

Bruce Diaz, Negotiating Team
"Oh because unusual send me a text so long fu tell me come in and let me get the umm..."

Phone:
"Well what I can do I can make Ms. Gray come to you because it's not like if you know."

Bruce Diaz, Negotiating Team
"Well, they don't even want to let me in on the compound none at all so if Ms. Gray comes..."

Phone:
"Well, that is beyond me but Ms. Gray will deal with you."

And eventually, a member of staff did come out to deliver the payslip but Diaz still wasn't let inside.

Bruce Diaz, Negotiating Team
"We are declined to go into the compound, I went to the main gate and they turned me around, I came here and parked my vehicle to try to get in and get my payslip, they brought my payslip and gave it to me through the fence. We were supposed to do an interview and update our beneficiaries and whatsnot our job status, they handed me the paper today, usually, you go inside and you do your job status and what's not, so I don't know what is the problem that they have with the stevedores, I don't know if they think it's the wait for the 21-days up, the strike, I don't know what the problem is, so basically that is what they are doing right now. Stevedores are blocked form going into the port compound."

And true to form Diaz used the opportunity to talk about the payout that the Port is still refusing to give to Stevedores despite the fact that they were awarded it in court.

Bruce Diaz, Negotiating Team
"The tribunal was made final so I do not how they could rewind a tribunal and you have to go back, submission, papers, verbally and it has already been done the tribunal has already passed on his ruling."

Cherisse Halsall:
"But they re-engaged you guys? It's not likely you are going to strike today?"

Bruce Diaz, Negotiating Team
"That will be known after we have an emergency meeting this afternoon a the Union with our members."

At the end of that meeting with the leaders of the work gangs, they declined comment because - once again - they need to first consult with their membership.

We'll keep following this story next week.

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