Exactly a week ago, the UBFSU received its full certification to act as the bargaining agent for 237 employees at the national university.

Initial indications to our newsroom are that the tension between the two sides has been cooling off because the administration has made recent attempts at consulting them as valued stakeholders.

Well, in a press release from today, the NTUCB says, quote, "The matters presented divulge the University's Management disrespect and disregard towards the Union's request for transparency and accountability. We understand that the UBFSU has already signed a non-disclosure agreement that legally binds them to strict confidentiality measures. We; therefore, call on the University's Board of Trustees to honor UBFSU's request and furnish them with information that will ensure that fairness prevails." End quote.

The NTUCB's Press release concludes with a call for the Board of Trustees and its Management team to treat the UBSFU members with the respect and dignity they deserve.

And in the labor dispute, the NTUCB is calling out the Management of the Port of Belize and the Government of Belize for what it refers to as "egregious attacks" attacks being committed against 29 unionized employees who are being laid off.

Last week, the Port declared its intention to lay off 36 employees, 29 of whom are members of the CWU. The union is interpreting that as a calculated attack meant to weaken their membership's morale.

Well, the NTUCB says, quote, "There is a curious silence and alarming level of progressive inactivity from our Ministry of Labor….Repeated CWU appeals to the Labor Ministry have provided no respite...NTUCB hopes that this release is seen as an impetus to aid the Ministry to act as the champions for Workers it so desperately needs to be…