Marvin Mora, president of the Belize Energy Workers Union (BEWU), confirmed to Amandala this evening that the energy workers and the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) have broken the long impasse over five collective bargaining issues. Whereas they have resolved issues of the termination of apprentice linesmen, the parties have still not reached a resolution over the plan to make a group of plant operators redundant.
The Government of Belize announced in a press release this evening that Labour Minister Godwin Hulse had met with the parties, for the signing of a memorandum of agreement “to end the current impasse and to improve the industrial relationship climate between both parties.”
The release added that, “This paves the way for the negotiations to come on a new Partnership Collective Agreement (PCA).”
Mora told Amandala that Minister Hulse played a vital role in helping to break the impasse in the negotiations which are over two years old and which broke down several times during that period.
Mora said that they could not and would not agree to things that are not beneficial to the company or the union.
He said that one of the outstanding issues is the company’s intention to make redundant the post of plant operators at the gas turbine. These 4 staff members rotate on a 12-hour shift, and Mora said that the positions are essential to the operation of the gas turbine, which is in turn essential in “block starting” when Belize experiences power outages due to problems with the supply from Mexico.
On a positive note, though, Mora said that whereas workers on the apprenticeship program could normally be terminated if they fail one of their annual exams given over their first four years, they will now only be required to take those exams for two years before becoming permanent staff with the company.
The company and the union have also been negotiating bonus packages, as well as pension payments. Under the current system, the company matches pension payments for up to 10% for top management staff but only 6% for other workers, Mora said.
He said that the union is content with the latest breakthrough, and talks will ensue in an attempt to achieve full resolution.