Turning now to news of a much different nature, the Christian Workers' Union and the DFC management met with the Labour Department in Belmopan today to discuss 5 employees sent home after being declared redundant.
The union maintains that the proper process under the law was not followed in declaring the redundancy. Both sides met amicably today to try and work through the difference of interpretation of the labour law. After the meeting, CWU president Mose Hyde spoke to Plus TV:
Evan Mose Hyde, President, CWU
"There's this ongoing engagement between ourselves and DFC management and it's been going on for over a year in fact and we are working very difficult issues and on the matter of the redundancy, we've had a different view as to what are the requirements and how it supposed to be done and with the participation of the labour department, we are trying to get to some agreed way forward to deal with that difference of opinion."
"There is still a lot work to be done, we are trying to work through those issues and I'm not about to get into a lot of the meat, because we need to make sure that there is space and breathing room for these issues to be worked. You just can't have anybody just cry redundancy at any time, it has to be done properly. So that's what it is we are involved with to try to work how it supposed to be done and also deal with the fact that we have individuals whose lives are being impacted by this and we have to act in their interest."
Reporter
"Has DFC conceded that in fact these redundancies were not declared in accordance with the labor act?"
Evan Mose Hyde
"All I'll say is that a big part of this is that the union and management have a different view on the matter. We are trying to work it out. I believe that there was some movement forward today, we will hope to add on that and try to find a positive way forward on Monday. We are hopeful that Monday is going to produce some results. Today was positive. Thats how we would categorize it and we are hopeful. Thats where we are."
And while the redundancy is current the flashpoint, we have been tracking months of agitation between the union and the management of DFC over a proposed 10% pay cut and reduction of benefits. For its part, DFC has said is trying to remain sustainable.
