The Fruta Bomba enterprise grows papayas for export Northern Belize and with 700 persons employed, is one of the largest employers in the Corozal district. But today, 4 Belizean men from villages in the Corozal District are complaining that the company is denying them their right to unionize. They came from Corozal to do a media tour in the city to complain that were fired on Monday because management got news that they wanted to form a union. The men who have been working at Fruta Bomba form 6 months to 10 years say that it's unjust and unwarranted. Eleazar Briceno explains.
Eleazar Briceno,
"We feel like our fellow workers up there are being exploited. They are not paid what is just, they are overworked. They violate their rights so we feel that with a union they will get what they deserve."
Fired Worker #2,
"The labor office tells us that we have rights like to make a union and the labor office says it is unlawful what they did to us."
Jules Vasquez,
It says here that you, Mr. Ricardo, along with two co-workers, I imagine that two includes these two gentlemen, were planning to strike on Saturday February 18th. That is what it says on your letter of dismissal and it says, 'the company does not tolerate any movement of this sort due to the type of activity and investment we have.' Were you planning a strike for Saturday February 18th?
Fired Worker #3
"Of course not, that's a lie and we didn't plan to do any strike."
Fired Worker #2,
"That's not correct, I don't feel that's the correct way to come and treat Belizeans in their own home and they try to mash you, that's totally wrong. We have right to fight for our home, for our bread."
Eleazar Briceno,
"We were lobbying for a raise of 0.50 cents per hour. I mentioned to him that in the USA, the average American citizen earns a minimum of $7.50 an hour. In Belize we feel exploited when we are not even getting paid US$2US an hour. So we were asking for a $0.50 cent increase in our rate so I don't believe they have any power of exploiting us."
Fired Worker #2,
"We already came out of the company already but maybe in the future my son or somebody will get benefit. That is all I have to say."
The terminated workers now plan to sue Fruta Bomba for wrongful dismissal.
