The butane strike ended two weeks ago - having accomplished nothing -because the three Central American Butane Companies still have not gotten the raise they were striking for.
And that's because the strike failed to cripple the country, thanks principally - in the city - to the courage of distributors like Brown's and Southside Butane who stayed open despite threats form the big importers.
But now that the strike is over at least one of these companies is feeling the pinch. We visited Southside butane today and found the place as empty as a church on a Friday night - here's why...
Jules Vasquez Reporting
Today, Southside Butane on Central American Boulevard had only a trickle of customers - not at all like 17 days ago when the gas tanks were queued up and the company was struggling to find enough butane to stay supplied.
That though was because of the strike - Southside was one of only two operators open in the city, and they refused to strike even after being threatened by their Central American suppliers.
Now, those suppliers have quit their strike - and all those fair-weather customers have disappeared - his yard is often empty, the depot waiting for customers.
Flowers is in a double dilemma - he's been blacklisted and cut off by the central American because he did not take part in their strike and he's been abandoned by customers who can buy cheaper from those same central Americans.
He told us he lost all those customers the day the strike finished:
Andrew Flowers, Owner Southside Butane
"Well, essentially it was like the flood gates were open again. Everybody just rush to all the Central American guys who were supplying them with gas before, I guess it's because of the cheaper quality and when it comes to allegiance they forgot that."
They may have forgotten that but they also know that his butane is more expensive because it is a higher grade than what the Central American companies offer:
Andrew Flowers, Owner Southside Butane
"I have been supplying with a steady supply of fuel. I have no difficulty with my supplier - supplying of fuel, but it's very expensive, it's a higher quality. As a result of that people would rush to a cheaper gas. It doesn't matter to them, they just want their stove to be lit, so they are rushing the cheaper gas and as I said things have been slow since - very slow."
Jules Vasquez
"So how much are you selling a hundred pound cylinder for? And how much can people buy it for form the Central Americans?"
Andrew Flowers, Owner Southside Butane
"At the moment the hundred pound cylinder with this gas that I am getting is $134.00. The Central American guys are at least $10 - $12 cheaper than that. Most of the consumers from what I see are looking at a cheaper price and they just want their stove to be lit as I said earlier. Allegiance for stood up for them - that through the window. They are not worried about that."
And the only fallback he has are these kinds of purchasers - the one pictured on his logo, folks on bicycles who ride in from the surrounding community
Andrew Flowers, Owner Southside Butane
"I must say too that I do have very reliable customers who are giving me their support and so I would just have to work my way through that. I am going anywhere. Determination - I will lead towards determination with the help of my people."
