And in other news, while the NTUCB had canceled its protest on Tuesday, the Belize Communication Workers for Justice is moving full steam ahead.
The retirees were out in front of BTL's headquarters again today - this time with more people, more placards, and a brand new song.
They've got the support of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labor, but will this translate to them getting their severances?
Courtney Menzies was out there today and spoke with them. Here is that story.
The Belize Communication Workers for Justice aren't slowing down - they've planned two protests for this week - and kicked off the first one today. They picketed in front of BTL on St Thomas Street with an even larger crowd than last time - and with passing vehicles blowing their horns in support.
And they've got the support of the Prime Minister, who yesterday said that they would push BTL to pay the retirees their severances. However, BCWJ rep Emily Turner says that without action, they're not buying the pretty words.
Emily Turner, BCWJ Rep
"I will say that we really received that message well, we must acknowledge that we appreciate that he has come out and said that on record but he had sent a similar message last week Friday and then a couple hours later we got this letter from BTL saying they were still reviewing so while I appreciate him saying he is supporting that, we are a group about action that's why we are out here. So unless BTL acts in that manner, it's really just words coming out from the prime minister because the board that is appointed by him and that serves at his pleasure is not listening to what he's saying. They're taking their time, they have written to us, they have even sent that press release saying that they will wait until their next board meeting to review this. I hope that they will put some urgency on it, we continue protesting for this reason because words without action won't do anything for us."
And while the PM hasn't made any moves yet, he did say that he does not agree with the 6 year limitation period BTL cited in its press release. And Turner explained further why that should not even be a consideration.
Emily Turner, BCWJ Rep
"Severance is a statutory obligation that you must discharge at the moment you cease working. And if you didn't do that then you have not met your obligation so the obligation remains outstanding. And what the CCJ said is I have reviewed it, BTL you have not met that obligation for these people since 1994 and you must meet it. So everybody else that was within after 1994 is being settle with and these people we are representing have similar cases."
And in fact, the BCWJ is saying that if a past worker of BTL who did not receive their severance has already passed away, their family can also claim that money:
Michael Augustus, BCWJ Rep
"All we ask that, your relative passed and your loved one is there but I'm certain that they would want you to receive what is rightfully yours that will be passed down to them so all they need to do is apply, send in their letter, send their names to the group with information, if they don't have it, we try our best to get the information from within and we put that along with the group. There are others that have died but they met the years they were asking for which there's no statute but they met it and they were paid, they came in and they got the money for the loved one that passed."
"The company is saying that they're searching and they can't find some. But Michael Edward William Augustus who worked in HR, who worked in PR knows where those documents are. They have a storage under the stairs at this same ETC building, you have recent files there. Then they boxed them up and sent them to Ladyville, that has moved to Lord's Bank where Nellie and others would know. There are shelves there and they are well labeled and they are placed in there by years. The paper filing, all the files of each employee are still there."
And while the BCWJ is working to assist the former BTL workers, they also want to help anyone in or out of the labor force with similar issues. And since they've started speaking out, they've been getting a lot of public support.
Emily Turner, BCWJ Rep
"In terms of the public, what has been happening is that people have been sending, if they know they have somebody that is sick or somebody that is not here, they are starting to provide us support, some people are sending us sandwiches, sending us water. We also got an umbrella from one of the customers that came out from BTL so we have a lot of support, a lot of people are calling us to advise us on some matters that are relevant to this movement but I think most importantly one of the messages that we really want to get out is to all workers of Belize, this is not just about the BTL employees, this is about all of us, we have to take care and look after ourselves when it comes to pension and severance."
Today's protest lasted 2 hours, from 11:00 to 1:00. The group plans to protest again tomorrow.
