But that's not the considered view of the Leader of the Opposition. Today he told us that the firing cannot be interpreted as anything other than union busting. This follows up on a UDP release issued yesterday, which says that the party stands in solidarity with the Communication Workers Union. But how far is the UDP prepared to go in support of the union? Party Leader Dean Barrow discussed that today.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"BTL's actions represent very bad timing, bad faith, and we think a totally wrong-headed approach to things. We would wish to ask BTL to reconsider its position and to reinstate Mrs. Perriot."
Jules Vasquez,
Are you of the opinion, as many observers are, that it is a deliberate strategy of union busting?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"I don't see how we can come to any other conclusion. Nobody could be more ill-considered, except if things were done in a deliberate fashion to prove a point and so we have to conclude that that's what it is - it's a way of sending a message to the other firebrands in the union and indeed to all members of the union and members of staff, in our view, that they had best beware that BTL is playing hardball."
Jules Vasquez,
What would be your words to those unionists right now who by your account faced an extreme act of intimidation?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"I believe that they have to take the fight to BTL, notwithstanding that BTL has laid out the possible consequences and I say this without any apologies because I feel that this is one instance in which the government will have no choice but to back the BTL workers. I feel then that the union and workers can in this instance be assured of support not just from the opposition, not just from the community, but from the Ministry of Labor and I believe that ought to be enough encouragement for them to determine in their own minds that they not allow this to go unchallenged."
Jules Vasquez,
But in the past whatever actions have included shutting down BTL, shutting down the telecom system.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"Well of course nobody would want to see that happen but if after this action is challenged, if after the steps that are laid out in the collective bargaining agreement have been followed, there is no satisfaction then it is clear that the union will have to consider more drastic steps. Once the UDP can be satisfied that in fact the union has tried to be responsible, the Ministry of Labor has intervened, and that BTL remains stubbornly intransigence, then the UDP would have to be prepared to support BTL's ratcheting up the stakes a notch or two."
Of course, the knock against Barrow the party leader has always been that Barrow the lawyer is a senior partner in the firm that does a great deal of work for Michael Ashcroft's various holdings, including the Belize Bank, and BTL, where he holds controlling interests. Today, Barrow told us that while his firm may work for Ashcroft, there is a line separating his lawyerly responsibilities and his political ones.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"I believe that a clear bright line is able to be drawn and needs to be drawn. I will say this much more: while this firm has done work for BTL and it is even now engaged in some briefs for BTL, for sure nothing that arises out of this kind of confrontation with labor, confrontation with the union, confrontation with Christine Perriot will have this law firm act on behalf of BTL and against Mrs. Perriot or the union or the workers of BTL. That I can say with absolute certainty."
Jules Vasquez,
Is your party prepared to unreservedly challenge Michael Ashcroft's management of BTL in this Christine Perriot firing?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"I believe that that's the effect of what it is that I have said during this interview but lest there be any doubt, let me restate in the terms in which you have put it: we are prepared to back the union on this matter, we are in complete solidarity with Mrs. Perriot, we think her firing, at this time in particular, is ill-advised."
