Stevedores Are At Work, but On Go-Slow  

Since the Christian Workers’ Union called a press briefing last week to state how very upset its members are, those employed by the Port of Belize, there has been little to no feedback from P.B.L. But while the stevedores have only threatened strike action and have reported to work, they have certainly made their discontent known to their employer. The waterfront workers are all on the job, but they have not been working to pace and it has had an effect on business. Today, Leonora Flowers, the President of the C.W.U., categorically told the media that there’s no strike action in place because the union has not informed the employer of such an action. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

 

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers’ Union

“There is a group of our members – our stevedores – who are very upset and unhappy with what’s happening at the moment. It’s been over a week that we sat with the – we sat in a meeting with the interim board’s chair and we said what was our final stance: Please do not touch our C.B.A. Please get to the sugar money or get to the C.B.A. We are prepared to dialogue on that right now. We’re not prepared to piecemeal any of our rights. We’re not prepared to give those away, not even for the sugar money.”

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

The tone was set publicly on March fifth and even from before then, when the Christian Workers’ Union wrote privately to the government, seeking a final settlement to the stevedores’ gripes. After not hearing a word on their behalf, stevedores are reportedly on the job, but have begun to show their discontent. While Leonora Flowers, President of the C.W.U., did not share openly what the stevedores have been advised to do, she gave an idea.

 

Leonora Flowers

“If you’re working and you’re unhappy, I’m sure it’s going to be felt in the effectiveness of what’s happening.”

 

Marion Ali

So what’s happening? Is it a go slow? What is happening on the ground?”

 

Leonora Flowers

“I will not seek to put any word to it. Suffice it to say, it’s not a strike. We’ve not issued any strike. We’ve not, told anybody to stay at home. Go to work.”

 

Marion Ali

“But whether or not they’re carrying on with the job, that’s a different story.”

 

Leonora Flowers

“(Nods head). You’d have to get what happens there from the Port. As we said, we tell our members, “show up for work.”

 

News Five did reach out to PBL C.E.O., Arturo Vasquez, who said that there was no protest happening, but that the actions of the stevedores has been having an impact on business. Cargo ships have been making calls to Belize since last week and have been unable to unload at the Port of Belize as a result of the actions of the stevedores. News Five also learned that on Saturday, a ship named Vanquish was sent back to Miami without unloading and that another ship, Aries, which provides a Caribbean feeder service will reportedly travel to the Port of Big Creek to be unloaded. There is another vessel, the Caribbean Mariner, which is also likely to be unloaded. And Flowers said the stevedores are prepared to stay the course until they hear from the government.

 

Marion Ali

“For how long will this be the case – that they report to work, but work is not happening?”

 

Leonora Flowers

“We’re anticipating a response from the government as we speak. It’s been more than a week that we’ve heard absolutely nothing from them.”

 

We left just as the C.W.U was starting a meeting with the foremen of the stevedore gangs. As Flowers explained, they are the ones who determine what steps they will take next.

 

Leonora Flowers

“These are the people who direct the union what happens. We take our orders from them.”

 

Marion Ali

“So they will inform what happens tomorrow and for the rest of the week?”

 

Leonora Flowers

“Yes.”

 

The stevedores want the government to pay them four point nine million dollars in compensation for the loss of wages when the decision was taken to have bulk sugar exported from the Big Creek Port instead. They also want to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.