Tonight, negotiations between the Port of Belize and its staff have been stalled. It's a precarious situation that could mean another complete shutdown because the staff returned to work on Friday, July 31, 2020. Their Rep Will Lambey, during the workers march on Monday, told us that no negotiations by Wednesday would mean a collective decision on the staff's next move. Well, talks were supposed to start today, but the Port put it off until next week.
The union's agenda includes six points including: Reinstatement of wrongfully terminated members by Wednesday August 5th 2020.
Well, the Port Management has written back saying that reinstatement cannot be entertained.
It's led to a stall that makes many of those requests impossible to fulfill with the staff being told as much in a reply from Pablo Salinas this evening. Now, they've convened an emergency meeting to decide whether or not to report to work in the morning.
Reporter
"We know that negotiations for the staff were supposed to start today. That was the whole reason for the big march yesterday. They haven't started, why is that?"
Will Lambey, Staff Chief Rep, Port of Belize
"I wouldn't say negotiation didn't start. We were supposed to get an answer today as to the requests we made for Wednesday. PBL didn't send an answer, but they said that they will move the date from Wednesday to August 10th. So with that in mind the CWU, PBL staff membership will have a next meeting to decide if we will accept that date that negotiations will start August 10th or if we will suggest another date to counter the proposal made by PBL."
Reporter
"Will the port be open tomorrow?"
Will Lambey, Staff Chief Rep, Port of Belize
"After the meeting this evening then that answer shall be given. At this time I can't foresee the future, so I will not make any comment."
The Port staff is meeting at this hour to decide whether or not they will report to work in the morning.
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