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BNTU Wants Their Money
posted (August 30, 2016)
In the last 2 weeks, you've heard the Prime Minister; and Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber, who is the Minister of Education, both ask the teachers and public officers to hold off on the last 3% raise that they are due. It was to have taken effect in April, but the Government finds itself strapped for cash with the Hurricane Earl relief efforts. Damages for the storm is now calculated at 183.6 million dollars.

But, the teachers may not want to wait, and though the Union hasn't completed canvassing all its branches countrywide, those that they have consulted with have demanded that their union's leaders reject the Prime Minister's request.

We met up with the BNTU National President Luke Palacio on Friday, and asked him to explain:

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Has the BNTU canvassed its membership and if yes, is there a universal position on whether or not they should accede to the Prime Minister's request given that the hurricane relief is costing them at this time."

Luke Palacio, National President - BNTU
"Well yes, we have done consultations and in fact today we will be meeting and then finalizing its position in terms of providing a response to the PM."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"What has been the position from those who you have canvassed at this time?"

Luke Palacio, National President - BNTU
"Well I think it is no secret, a number of the branches called in directly to the media house saying that at their branch meeting the membership is saying no to the deferral and no to the request. We need to make it absolutely clear, not because the Prime Minister had asked us to differ. As leaders of the unions, that that is how the unions operate. If that is how the government operates when the leader says no, it is no and when the leader says this is what it's going to be, you just go and tell your people - that is not how we operate. We are consulting with our membership. We have a democratic process. We believe in the union movement and therefore whatever the membership decides, then we will follow the dictates of our membership."

The BNTU President tells us that as soon as they have gotten a consensus from the rest of their branches around the country, they will share that final position with the public.

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