All that commotion subsided just before 1:00 - just in time for their union's negotiating team to have a face to face meeting with the Port's management overseen by the Labour Minister at the Belize City Labour Office.
That was a marathon 4-and-a-half-hour session, and when the leaders for the two sides exited, we tried to get a few details out of them about how these talks went.
Here are their very brief comments:
Evan Mose Hyde - President, CWU
"We have to make sure that we need to reach our members to explain to them what we have discussed in this meeting with PBL and the Minister of Labour. So, all I will say is that there have been certain movements when it comes to the workers under the shed - or as we call them the shed workers, staff workers of PBL, which is a separate bargaining unit. So, they have managed to secure certain movements of the issue with their CBA and other issues. So, they left the meeting early, and they've gone with those members. Now, we will go the stevedores and tell them what it is we have discussed, and what PBL has put to us. And they will get to decide what their response is going to be."
Reporter
"Do you feel as president that there has been any positive movement on the issues for the stevedores?"
Evan Mose Hyde
"I think there is a movement when parties come together and talk. So, that is a movement that we are not talking to each other through the media. We sat around a table, and we engaged in a conversation. This comes down to what our members feel is best for them."
Reporter
"Is there a de-escalation of tensions between the Port and the CWU?"
Arturo "Tux" Vasquez - CEO, Port of Belize Ltd.
"I would think so. I think that these conversations were good. I think a bit of de-escalation, as you called it, has been there. However, the issue of whether they're on strike or not is still something that is open for determination. I can tell you at this point, I'm not sure - until they come back to us with whether they will be going back to work or not."
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