This morning they unanimously voted down a proposal by the Port of Belize limited and by this afternoon water front workers were back picketing in front of the Port offices for week 3 of the stand-off with the private Port. At a meeting this morning, Christian Worker's Union executives presented the workers with a ten point memorandum of understanding put forth by the private port. All it needed was their signature but the discussion didn't get that far as CWU President Antonio Gonzales says the workers were uneasy about point number one.
Antonio Gonzalez, CWU President
“The membership are still concerned and a bit wary as to giving full trust to the management of Port of Belize Limited as to the process or progress of these discussions. They still have some deep concerns about the trust with Port of Belize Limited.”
KS: Does that memorandum call for these workers to sign up with the Port first and then join the union?
Antonio Gonzalez,
“One of the areas was that the stevedores had to apply for employment with Port first and then the union would be recognized. This is one of their proposals. This is a concern of the membership who wanted it to be simultaneous, that once they got employed that the union would be recognized rather than have to apply and then a week or two weeks later the union is recognized. So this is one of the concerns. But according to the draft memorandum they have to apply and get employed before the union is recognized.”
KS: Is the union executive supportive of that clause in the Memorandum?
Antonio Gonzalez,
“No as you know from the initial stage we were totally against that.”
The union is in the process of drafting counter proposals which will be presented to the Port of Belize on Wednesday.