The Belize trade union movement has brought in the big guns to bolster its labour rights fight in Belize. George DePeana from Trinidad is the general secretary of the Caribbean Congress of Labour. He's been involved in labour rights wars all across the region for almost half a century and says this one in Belize is definitely worth the fight.
George DePeana, Caribbean Congress of Labor
"The Belize trade union movement has brought to our attention the struggle they are having with a particular employer and the question of dismissals without any cause being given and the fact that these problems are now going to proceed to the level of arbitration and I am here to render whatever assistance is possible.
Primarily I am here to give advice to assist in the preparations, in the strategies, and also to demonstrate to everyone, the employer and the workers, that they have support outside of Belize in the brotherhood of the trade union movement.
What they are struggling for can be summed up in one word: justice. We are seeking to get justice and fair play for the workers and I believe that the actions so far taken by the employer require that they be confronted at all levels."
Dylan Reneau, General Secretary - NTUCB
"He has had 45 years in the trade union movement so 45 years of experience has been brought to us to help us with this tribunal and also with Christine's case."
DePeana formerly worked at the ILO. The Caribbean Congress of Labour where he now works is a regional trade union federation. It represents 500,000 members in 33 affiliated unions across 17 Caribbean nations.
