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Last week Friday, the Belize Energy Workers’ Union sent out a fiery release, and today they held a press conference. The union has demanded a 4.5% increase which management has refused to agree to. Management’s best and final offer was 2%. And then, union trustee and long time employee Sheryl Cuthkelvin was terminated. The union brought those two issues to the media this evening, saying their members are angry and impatient.

Dorla Staine, General Secretary
“We’re here today because the members are really getting agitated at this time. There are times some of them get angry with us that they are deciding to take action. We made mention of rate increase because we are a part of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize who we all know has made submissions to the PUC against an increase because of the impact it would have on the poor hardworking citizens of this country. Not because we are a union who works at BEL does not mean that we do not have an opinion as well. So our affiliated members have made a stand and as a union we have to stand together.”

Adolfo Rosalez, Negotiator
“This union does not have to strike, we do not have to shut down the system in order to get BEL and Fortis on their knees.”

Sean Nicholas, President – BEWU
“Termination of union officer/negotiator Miss Sheryl Cuthkelvin, a ten year veteran, is immoral, illegal and inhumane. Miss Sheryl Cuthkelvin was terminated without cause. Reference letter dated 8th May 2008, ‘this is to inform you that your service with BEL is being terminated with the effect May 10th, 2008.’ The union wrote Mr. Young on the 12th of May 2008, demanding that the termination be rescinded. Mr. Young replied on the 27th of May, the union received that the 4th of June. In an interview with the Vice-President and the Manager of the Customer Care Department, Miss Cuthkelvin was told that her termination was based on the company downsizing and this was caused by the company not getting the rate increase it requested from the PUC. If the company was downsizing, then according to the union agreement, the union should have been consulted prior to termination.”

Rene Gomez, President - NTUCB
“The National Trade Union Congress at this point in time we are very in support of the Energy Workers’ Union call for us to solidarize with them in this cause in which management, BEL management is acting in bad faith. It is a process that started in August 2006 and since August 2006 to today, it speaks volume of management about how they could prolong such a negotiation. This proves that management does not have the workers in their hearts and they are acting in bad faith. The National Trade Union Congress from today onward will try to dialogue more with our brethren BEL union and to see what is the way forward.”

This evening, BEL’s Manager of Corporate Communications Dawn Sampson told us that management has a difference of opinion in the interpretation of the contract. Management believes the labour agreement from the year 2000 is still valid.