Christian Workers Union leads protest outside Port of Belize

Published by BBN Staff at March 2, 2020

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Posted: Monday, March 2, 2020. 10:46 am CST.

By Aaron Humes: Framing their fight as one of survival, President of the Christian Workers Union (CWU) Evan ‘Mose’ Hyde vowed to stay the course until workers are properly compensated for their employment on the sugar boats.

Presently there is no work on the pier head as three CWU bargaining units – stevedores, shed workers and office staff – are in solidarity.

Hyde told us that BSI/ASR has begun talking through sister union, Belize Workers Union, with employees in the North about redundancies due to a plan to consolidate shipment of sugar through the Big Creek Port, as competitors Santander Sugar are already doing.

This, Hyde said, would cost jobs and up to $2 million in earnings and the Port of Belize, which is in receivership has maintained its silence.

The CWU aims to break that silence to learn how much workers will get. Staff are also awaiting final approval on a delayed collective bargaining agreement that has already been approved by the Ministry of Labor.

Hyde also said they will not be provoked into doing anything that will draw attention from authorities such as the police, but that workers’ patience will not be overly tested.

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