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Four years after the last CBA was signed, BTL and the Belize Communication Workers Union were back at the table today signing a new one. The Chairman said it wasn't easy, but it was a study in the art of the possible:...

Nestor Vasquez - Chairman, BTL
"The last time I signed an agreement here was four years ago in May. Previous to that, it had been 13 years that one was signed. But now, it was because of the goodwill of the union and management that we were able to get one this year at this point in time. It is never easy, you know but it is healthy because we get to understand each other and we get to know and respect each other."

Stephen Yearwood - President, BCWU
"I would like to say thank you to the board of directors and the management's negotiation team for working with the executives making this experience a memorable one for both parties. It was a negotiation so, make no mistake; we had intense moments, we disagreed, we agreed to disagree and we even got frustrated at some point. But throughout the duration of the process, we remained respectful, never losing sight of what we wanted to achieve. In the end, the executives and memberships are pleased with the outcome and the precedence that has been set. We achieved what we set out to do. We came with a document that is better than what we started with. The sacrifice was worth it as the results can be seen with every single benefit that is listed in this CBA document today."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"What have you all negotiated to get in this CBA for the BTL employees?"

Stephen Yearwood
"One of the things that we are very proud of today is that we have a retirement package that wasn't there before. So, persons who retire after 20 years or who resign after 20 years now get a benefits package from the company. So, that is one of the things that we are very proud of. We got a salary increase and that by default is an increase in your pension contribution."

Jules Vasquez
"In terms of the actual increase, what sort of increase did you all negotiate? Is it across the board or is a different rate of increase for different levels of employees?"

Stephon Yearwood
"So, I'll touch on two things. For some time now the salary increase as a part of your performance appraisal was missing. So, we got that back in so that employees will get an increase based on their performance. And also we negotiated an across the board salary increase for the year 2017-2018 and then we also got a lump sum payment for year 2016-2017. So, to answer your question, yes, increases both across the board and to the salary have been negotiated."

Jules Vasquez
"What is the percentage for the across the board?"

Stephen Yearwood
"Well, I didn't discuss with the management team if I am able to divulge that information so, I'll refrain from answering that question."

Jules Vasquez
"Is there anything for cellular phones, for the most updated cellular phones for staff and data as well? Would you explain that?"

Stephen Yearwood
"Yes, so, the staff is able to get a device of his or her choice at cost price."

Jules Vasquez
"Has this consequentially and adversely affected BTL's overall cost portfolio, in so far as, is it making the company more expensive to run and less profitable for its shareholders?"

Rochus Schreiber- CEO, BTL
"As a matter of fact, this year we are coming up more profitable than we expected; even after completing the CBA negotiations. It is all about managing the costs correctly. We have seen the union and the management coming together with the object of how do we make BTL stronger together. And everybody understood that it takes two parties to tango. We had to come together to find the solutions that would make a long-term platform for the employees and the management in which we can build a very successful and very strong BTL family."

Jules Vasquez
"Is some of the board's agreeability with the employees and with the union is some of that influence inevitably by the political realities surrounding BTL? It is a state-owned company, it is a private company but the state holds the controlling interest. And that ultimately the union members are Belizeans and they are voters and you want to have them on your side."

Rochus Schreiber
"All the discussions that we had were driven by the objects of making BTL a strong successful company that can deliver value for the Belizean nation, for the country."

Jules Vasquez
"Were you involved in the negotiations or were you undermined in any way by the now public fact that you are the most highly paid CEO probably in Belize's history. Because it is hard to say, well, you can't have a pay raise when your CEO is the highest paid CEO in the country?"

Rochus Schreiber
"I know this has been brought up and this was the first time my name was actually mentioned in any sort of parliament. So, that was kind of a first for me. The interesting thing is that inside the company this did not make any waves. Therefore, the fact that I am remunerated at a scale which is higher than the normal Belizean pay-scale is, has not actually factored into the discussion. The focus, as I have said before, is how do we make and position the company for success."

The package also includes benefits for transportation costs, allowances for holding over for other posts, and monthly allowances for phone and internet use. It expires in 2019. A new Communication Workers Union executive will be elected in May - and they will negotiate the new CBA.