On Friday the BNTU will be demonstrating through the streets of Belmopan. Their main demand is an 8.5% salary increase, which is half of the increases that were approved for the CEOs and the CabSec.
But the government doesn't seem like it will budge even after rallies and meetings and the threat of industrial action. While the union says thousands will come out to show support for their cause, is that enough to get GOB to meet their demands?
The president says it goes deeper than that and added that the only way to change the system is for the wider public to join the call.
Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"Our rally that was held on the 7th of February, it did yield positive results and while many believe that a demonstration should yield far greater things, it's a one-one step when unionism and it's called due process and you have to get ready for that. Now Friday, we have another mandate and you will see that the number of persons coming out tomorrow will be far greater than what you say on the 7th of February. And there is a list attached to our movement on Friday. So the Belizean public are of the opinion that we cannot get the government to bow? This is not about getting the government to bow, this is about getting the government to understand: you are our elected officials, you have a mandate from the people, and you in your very manifesto said that you will increase salaries for public officers and teachers by 20%. Where are we with that?"
Jules Vasquez:
"You're talking about plan 2.0?"
Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"Yes, we're talking about 2.0. The $6 for minimum wage. So it's not about getting them to bow, it's about getting them to carry out what they promised the Belizean people."
"We have too many keyboard warriors, how many of you are willing to come forward? I love the question that Jules asked, oh you can't get them to bow, you can't get them to do anything. At the end of the day, it has to be us. Right now the workers are starting, we are starting to agitate, we are starting to point out the things we don't like. But those of you behind the keyboards, what role will you play? We just continue to criticize? Continue to attack? We need you to be out physically because your physical presence will also make a difference and that's where we are today. So anybody who says oh they're wasting time, my question to them, what have you done to help us correct the ills of this society? That's my only question I have to ask."
And BNTU's sister unions will be showing their solidarity on Friday. Both the APSSM and PSU presidents said that they are supporting the teachers and are calling on their members to come out as well.
Sharon Frazer, President, APSSM
"Just like everybody else, there's disgruntlement. I've asked and given and undertaking to support. As you know, HOD's, they're the persons who supervise the members of the PSU so that the call has gone out. There are a number of HOD's who have acknowledged that yes they are supporting and they will make sure that they don't frustrate the process. So it's important to engage HOD's in this manner. In addition to that, they're the heavy lifters, they're the ones who are making those CEOs who got their increase, their raise, look good. So why should they not also be considered along with other public officers and teachers who are actually doing the work? It's not that we're not affected, everybody is affected by the decisions that have been taken, and more so them, who have to be working directly with these CEOs and know the level of work or non-work that they are putting in, depending on how you look at it. So we're in support, there is solidarity."
Dean Flowers, President, PSU
"The Public Service Union has not been secretive about its call to its membership. Today we will issue a formal call and notice to the government of Belize that we're summoning all public officers and Public Service Union members out on Friday to voice the discontent about the selfish nature of the Cabinet Secretary and those that he serves and so on Friday, we're also calling on each member to bring out a family member and we're calling on the general public to come out. This is a very serious, we're at a very serious juncture in our democracy and if people care about their children and the future of their children, they will come out and support tomorrow to demonstrate to the teachers that they do not want to see them out there, they prefer to see them in the classrooms and as a result, that will yield a better future for our children and I'm saying every time the teacher has to come out of the classroom, your child suffers, Courtney, if you have one and my children suffer. And I refuse to see my children suffer because of injustices being perpetrated against the teachers. And so every Belizean parent has a duty to put on a green shirt or a yellow shirt and come out tomorrow to say to the government, you need to do better."
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