Social Security Payments by employers are due on Monday February 14th, if you don't pay you'll get fined.

But, if the unionized members of social security's staff have their way, you won't be able to pay, because they are staging a sickout, timed to coincide with the busiest day of the month.

That has sent Social Security's management scrambling to re-deploy non-union staff to man posts countrywide, and if necessary act as cashiers, so that the entire system does not grind to a halt because of the sickout.

And why the sickout? Well, the issue is collective bargaining agreement negotiations which have broken down - 15 months after they started in August of 2009. The Christian Workers Union has made a raft of demands, covering everything from sick leave, to increased subsistence allowance to salary increases.

According to reports, the plan is to start with a sickout, and then that may move move to a go slow and possibly even a strike.

But right now it's only a sick-out and we'll see how it goes on Monday…

Channel 7

What insanity. Just what we need, pay government employees more money and benefits that the workers of the country must pay for. Labor unions usually only have the interests of their members at heart, certainly not the country or economy. I am sure they also are very pleased with the revised labour law. I find the Social Security workers among the best in public sector but how can any responsible person actually think the govt can give pay raises.

“Sickout” Staged At Social Security

There were long lines at the social security office in Belize City today as at least 60% of the entire staff was absent due to a sick out.

The sick out was held to protest negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement that started in August of 2009 and have stalled since then.

It was timed to coincide with the 14th. of the month - which is when social security payments are due and the demand for trained staff is greatest.

Social security's management had to deploy nonunion staff - in many cases middle managers - to posts all over the country to ensure that there was at least a continuity in service.

Information suggests that the union may give notice of industrial action going forward. We'll keep monitoring it…

Channel 7