B.T.L. Workers Walk Out Over Collective Bargaining Agreement

B.T.L. employees across the country staged a walkout this afternoon in protest of what is being reported as a refusal to properly address a two-pronged labor issue with the Belize Communications Workers Union.  In a communiqué released to members of the B.C.W.U. on March twenty-fourth, the executive of the union informed that it is aware of a report related to what is known as the HAY Group Compensation Project.  The outcome of that report, it is believed, will impact the membership adversely or favorably.  According to the B.C.W.U., the company’s management has been in receipt of the report since last year and promised to share the details.  They complain that they still have not been able to get a hold of the report in order to chart the way forward based on possible financial implications.  Secondly, there is the issue of a Memorandum of Understanding.  During his brief tenure as Acting C.E.O., Ivan Tesucum notified that management is confirming the validity of the agreement; however, he never got around to update the B.C.W.U.  A new C.E.O. has since taken over the day-to-day operations at B.T.L.   The union on the other hand, says that the agreement is binding.  The B.C.W.U. since taken the decision to abstain from attending any further meetings until management validates and accepts its position on both of its concerns.