The Belize sugar industry's workers began agitating earlier this week for a pay increase and it seems that they BSI's management seems to be taking the moves of workers union lightly even after they've taken their needs to the streets of Orange Walk.
They've further met with management and still their demands are not being met and today again they took to the streets to demand that they be paid more if not industrial action will follow. Our 7NEWS team was in Orange Walk today as the workers once again took to the streets to request a pay increase.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
Cane trucks were delivering cane today and the factory seemed unaffected as billows of smoked puffed out of the Tower Hill factory even as fifty percent of the workers were not at work. This afternoon they walked from the entrance of Orange Walk town into the Central Park chanting their union song and a new resolution they had arrived at.
[Union members marching and singing 'Solidarity for Ever' and 'We shall not be moved.']
Rene Gomez, Belize Worker's Union Executive
"They are boycotting the overtime on Monday so it seems the workers have decided to go a little step forward to boycott the overtime so that means that Monday as a public holiday the factory intends to continue normal operations but by the workers not going to work, definitely operations will have to cease and probably a shutdown of the factory for Monday the public and bank holiday."
Gomez says that this action that will be effective monday has become necessary because BSI's management simply won't budge the union having moved from their original position of wanting a 10% increase now down to almost a rock bottom demand.
Rene Gomez,
"We have come down from 10% to a 5%, 3%, and 2% to show that we are flexible and yet they have indicated to us that no is no and so we are saying that we are taking our protest to another stage because management insists they have nothing to offer to us while we are seeing that yes they can afford it. The workers are behind us and we are rallying with the workers to make sure we get their support."
"We know they can afford it. With all presentations and all the releases they made they have not convinced us because we are there at the plant seeing that they can do better to curtail the cost base of the factory operations and management on a whole."
"What we are requesting of them is only about $400,000 for these increases but they say they don't have it but yet they are investing $4.5 million in capital expenditure machinery and equipment. And if they can borrow money, $4.5 million, for capital expenditure then why not a $400,000? You know they are buying new vehicles - 5 new Prados, 2 new pickups - they are living like kings at the housing site and all of these things we need to address because it is time the general public know the other face of BSI and we are determined to do that."
Harris Patnett, Belize Worker's Union Executive
"What we are going to do is rally with the workers from today to Sunday to ensure that we go ahead with the protest on Monday to boycott the overtime and shut down the place on Monday."
But more than airing BSI's dirty laundry the union executive says that they've been forced into this situation because of rising costs of living. And while they agree that they are presently not badly off they still want more to come with changing times.
Harris Patnett,
"The salary they know receive is very..it is reasonable but it does not cope with the present situation. We find that the increase from BSI would come in timely with the high rising costs of everything around us. The last increase we got was a 4% increase and that was in last year when BSI made a loss. So we had an increase and a bonus attached to our salary when BSI made a loss but now they are making a profit and saying nothing for you so this again makes it odd."
"What we hope to gain is that it shows BSI that workers are fully committed to what we are talking about. It is the commitment from the workers and throwing it back at BSI because they are saying they are prepared for a strike but that is not so; the effect is shown in what they are thinking."
Thinking that if all goes as planned will definitely have to re-adjusted come monday with workers not showing up for work.
After Monday's no-show at work the union plans to hold a press conference in which more of BSI's workings will be unveiled to the public.