We stress that was yesterday, before the Minister offered a compromise. But, nonetheless, the pay cut is on the minds of all the teachers who went on strike - who were warned that it could be the penalty for striking.
We dug into our coverage of the 11-day strike, to find a few choice comments which show clearly that the teachers knew that there could be dire dollar consequences for their participation
Here's that story:
Hon. Elena Smith, Labour/Civil Society Senator
"Don't let the BNTU say come out again and you get those calls from those persons within the ministry to tell you that you must go to school and if you don't go to school you lose a day pay. If you don't go to school you might not have a job, you might be transferred. So what if we tell them that if they can't govern this country properly we will get them out of office? Ah, that should be what we are doing. What is good for the goose is good for the gander."
Luke Palacio, National President - BNTU
"Enjoy the rest of you day, enjoy the strike, take care of yourselves and remember this is a peaceful protest."
Kathleen Flowers, Belize City Branch Rep., - BNTU
"Strike action continues. We shall not be moved. Despite what will come, because it will come, despite what will come at us with that announcement, we will stand our ground."
Hon. Mark Lizarraga - Business Senator
"I would personally like to thank the teachers for making this sacrifice. what they are doing is valiant and bold to be respected and admired that they are will to take pay cut and it's a substantial pay cut. I heard some big numbers being discussed on some talk show this morning."
Kathleen Flowers, Belize City Branch Rep., - BNTU
"it's going to be varied because we have a range of pay scales on which teachers get paid, but averagely it's going to range from anywhere from $38 or so to $102-$110. Each branch is being asked per day to do an exercise with their teachers as well. I know today Belize branch is doing that exercise with teachers so we show them realistically what they are looking at."
Back in 2005, the Supreme Court ruled on the payment for teachers and public officers who go on strike.
The Chief Justice, Abdulai Conteh ruled that managing authorities have a discretion on whether or not to withhold pay for teachers who went on strike. In that rule, he also said, quote, "The right to strike, which members of the applicant union undoubtedly have, does not, however, confer as well the right to be paid their salaries for any period they absent themselves from the classroom in exercise of their right to strike."
We note today's development which is that government is willing to pay some of the teachers' salaries, once BNTU dips into its strike fund to pay others.
Email
Print