Friday is the deadline for more than 120 stevedores currently working at the Port of Belize to apply to work for the private Port.
And as the clock ticks, there is no impasse and the Christian Worker's Union plans to picket the offices of the Port again tomorrow morning. An optimistic CWU President Antonio Gonzalez told 7NEWS this evening he believes there will be an amicable solution which union sources say could be due to executive intervention from the Prime Minister.
But whatever that is, a defiant Port of Belize majority owner Luke Espat, who always has the PM's ear, today encouraged stevedores to fill out job applications. Espat says he advises that they apply for their new job first and then worry about the union.
Luke Espat, Majority Owner Port of Belize Ltd.
“We have no problem with the stevedores; absolutely none. We will hire the stevedores. They must go to the Port and fill out their application because this is a new employment and then after that they can form themselves into a union.”
Keith Swift,
Will you relent Mr. Espat?
Luke Espat,
“But I don’t…relent from what?”
Keith Swift,
From your position that these stevedores have to re-apply for their jobs?
Luke Espat,
“They have to but not re-apply. We have never employed these people. It’s not a matter of relenting. These are people just coming to work for us. Like anything if someone goes and work for your organization they fill out an application right? You think that’s fair? Then we are saying do the same.”
Keith Swift,
What do you think will be the solution to this problem?
Luke Espat,
“I think what will be an ingenious move is the leadership should go there with all their workers, if they are saying that is the case, and that these people want to be represented by them that they should go and apply. The union should take them.”
Keith Swift,
And if they are hired by the Port of Belize Limited will they ever make as much money as they are making now?
Luke Espat,
“I am sure they will. I am sure they will. I am sure individually they will.”
Keith Swift,
To those stevedores watching the news tonight, what would you say to them?
Luke Espat,
“I would say go and get your application and have all the confidence in the future, in change, and change is inevitable and we are all concerned about the status of every Belizean. This is a Belizean experience, let’s do it together. We have all the confidence in our side of it that we will be fair and we expect them to be as fair to us as employers. And we will go ahead in harmony and make this thing work. But we have to respect the basis of existence for each company. That is the point.”
Keith Swift,
What about these workers who have been working at the Port for 20 or 30 years and are worried about their benefits? Can you give them any assurances?
Luke Espat,
“That is the point, these stevedores have never worked for the Port. They’ve worked for the shipping agents. I think who you should go and interview is the shipping agent that has an amount of money, $1.3 or $1.5 billion, that is owned by these workers; these stevedores. And you should ask them why is it that they haven’t paid these people off. That is what I think you should go and do. Don’t remove them from the situation because that is the bottom line. They should pay off their workers and the workers then will be employed by us.”
In response to Espat, Bill Bowman the President of the Water Front Employer's Association spoke for the first time today to 7NEWS saying the money is in a retirement fund and as a part of their collective agreement with the CWU, the timing of its payout is determined by the union. He adds that the money in the retirement fund is non-contributory and was put it in solely by the employers.
On the broader issue, Bowman says the shipping agents respect the Port of Belize, but stressed that they have yet to see a plan of action for its management. Bowman says they need to make contingencies for any changes in cost and safety of the vessels and so far they haven't gotten any indication from the now private port as to what changes, if any, will occur. He adds that the Port of Belize should discuss the issue with the union.
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