Communication Workers Urge Immediate Action from Prime Minister

The Belize Communication Workers for Justice say they’re putting the country on notice, after watching what has happened to the Association of Beneficiaries and Retired Public Officers. ABPRO has been fighting to recover funds owed to them since 1995, and tragically, several members have died without ever receiving their benefits. The BCWJ says that will not be their story. They insist they won’t “lie and die,” and they’re pushing their demands all the way to the Prime Minister’s desk. They want action, they want answers, and they say they’re prepared to keep pressing until they get both. Tonight, past presidents of the Communication Workers Union, Emily Turner and Michael Augustus, outline exactly what they’ve written to the Prime Minister, and why they believe BTL, the Labor Department, and even the Income Tax Department must act now. Here’s Emily Turner, explaining their first move.

 

Emily Turner, Past President, Belize Communication Workers Union

“We wrote BTL Chairman. We wrote several letters. We’ve been writing. We said, you know what? One of our members said, let’s write the Prime Minister. He will pay attention; he will help us. We did that. We included the Minister of Labor. We have written to the labor commissioner, who is supposed to be giving us the results of our investigation.”

 

 

 

Michael Augustus, Past President, Belize Communication Workers Union

“I’d like to say there are three, core demands that we are sending to BTL, three. One, pay BTL people their money. One BTL cannot, should not, and I say will not purchase that old house? No, wait, I want to call out and I’m certain they’ll be looking on the Income Tax Department. Come on, man. Twenty-five percent of whatever you got, come on. So even, Mr. Prime Minister, Income Tax Department, Back off. Get it? back off.”

 

 

 

Emily Turner

“We did receive an acknowledgement from the Prime Minister saying that he would have it looked into and then it was placed in the hands of the Labor Commissioner and we have followed up two times with her to find us that she’s investigating. But as you can see, there’s nothing substantial. It’s just we follow up, we investigate, we wa tell you. So it’s these acknowledgment kind of responses.”