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That was all good and well - but it seems he mis-spoke when he talked about the date of implementation for the raise. The Prime Minister said it would be paid in August - but he told the union that it would be July. Now, it's only a technicality, because the effective date would still be April first - but the teachers say it is an important and consequential difference. Now, it would seem to be the kind of thing that could be cleared up with a simple phone call, but today the unions flexed with a press conference to say the PM is sending a wrong signal:....

Luke Palacio, National President - BNTU
"The Prime Minister's New Year's message, he indicated that the salary adjustment would be effective in August, retro-active to April 1st 2014. Our understanding and agreement so far with the Prime Minister before his new year's message was that this salary adjustment would have been come effective on the 1st July, retro-active to April of 2014. We do take umbrage and very much concern that the Prime Minister would use his new year's message to give us this - what we consider to be a wrong signal."

Kathleen E.B. Flowers, BNTU Belize District President
"We have already gone back to our teachers and convince them to let's wait it out and they've only have 6 months waiting tolerance; from January to the end of June and they look forward for July. We can't go back to tell them something different now."

Luke Palacio, National President - BNTU
"When it appears that the Prime Minister wants to move the goal post, we feel much offended about this and our Council of Management, our membership wants us to demonstrate this in no uncertain terms that we are not satisfied."

"When you negotiate you don't allow anybody to be moving the goal post with you. We are not here for that, because you have to understand that a collective bargaining agreement is a binding agreement. If we allow them to get away this time because the collective bargaining is for a three year period, so that next year he'll come and say that we will get it until September and then for the 3rd year he would say that he cannot give us any at all because of so and so. No, we are not for that. We are taking our stand that this salary adjustment should become effective 1st of July."

And it will be the first of July. We contacted the prime Minister about the disparity by text message, and this is what he sent back to us:

"I was in error when I said August in the New Year Message. I have consulted the relevant Minutes, and the payment month is July. It was a mis-recollection, and therefore mis-statement, on my part, and not a decision to change what was promised."

So, there, the teachers will get their raise, as promised in July. But, they're still not completely happy, because with no certainty as to what percentage that raise will be, the unions want assurance. That comes in the form of what they call a floor, a minimum that they would be paid, regardless of how government revenue turns out.

Luke Palacio, National President - BNTU
"Our union, like the other two unions continue to insist as it relates to the counter proposal that the Government of Belize should grant us or guarantee us a floor as it relates to this salary adjustment."

"We know that the Prime Minister has opposed this time and time again. Every opportunity he gets he is saying no to that, but the BNTU and the other unions are saying that is a proposal that we intend to continue to negotiate. We cannot just come and tell us no."

Their proposed floor is 5%. And if the union seems especially feisty that's because Belize District President Kathleen Flowers says this is a year when the unions will be more active and engaged as an agent for change in the society taking on everything from corruption to social security injury benefits. She explained this new, higher profile:..

Kathleen E.B. Flowers, BNTU Belize District President
"We are alongside our umbrella organization NTUCB; we are going to be charging after all the national issues that are hurting us everywhere we turn. There is absolutely no issue that the union will let rest this year."

[crowd applauding]

"Starting with corruption, corruption to the core of our being and so the union is about to start taking the medicine to the nation. We are bringing all on board - develop that image where the unions no longer only deal with contiguous matters and deal with crisis management. We want to be respected as social partners that play our role and that have a voice and can use our voice. You are going to be hearing of our slogan which we are going to be sharing with you today that we intend to live with and not only preach it "teachers got your back." Not only do we have your back in educating our children in this nation we will have your back to keep the nation turn around."

And to start off the increased engagement and activism, the unions will launch a series of public rallies on January 10th in Orange Walk at Queen Elizabeth Park. From there the rallies will move to every district.