Were Santander employees protesting salary issues this morning? Well, that was the word going around. Over twenty workers were in front of the company’s offices today querying about pay they received on Friday. According to a release issued by the Santander Group late this evening, the protest was the result of a misunderstanding which had to do with salary deductions following an advance employees received in the days before Easter. Our colleagues from Plus TV were in the area and spoke with one of those workers. Arsenio Estrada says he is a seasoned welder but he has been dealt injustices with monies. He said he has been at the company for a little over a year.
Arsenio Estrada, Santander Employee
“I was told a lie, yuh know. I was told that I would be making a certain amount of money. I am actually a skilled welder. I helped to build the U.S Embassy and I worked several places before. I was deprived of my welding skills here. They didn’t even give me a welding test. They just told me take forty dollars and if you don’t want it just go home. I noticed all the other guys coming after me they took a test and they got pay raise. Up to now, a whole year, I haven’t received a raise; me and several other guys here. So that is what’s going on here. Well the promise they made to me was that I would be making like almost a thousand dollars every week or two weeks. I can’t remember, but it doesn’t add up.”
Reporter
“So, how much are you receiving?”
Arsenio Estrada
“Actually like seven hundred dollars. Yuh know, that’s with over time.”
Reporter
“Have you spoken to them? Have you approached them? What are they saying?”
Arsenio Estrada
“Several times. Actually, right now they told us that they will let me prove my skills now. I said, well, you guys will let me have to wait a whole year to let me prove my skills now. So, that’s what they said in the meeting right there.”
Reporter
“So, there was a meeting and what did they say?”
Arsenio Estrada
“Well, that we have to prove our skills. All the Belizean welders, electricians, mechanics, we have to prove ourselves now in a test.”
Reporter
“Did you take that test?”
Arsenio Estrada
“We are going to take it right now they say.”