| PM Invites Unions To Meet, They Say Answer Our Letters First |
| Thu, May 8, 2025 |
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They may only be 8 weeks into their second term, but government is already locked in a major industrial dispute with the unions.
And so the Prime Minister Briceño has invited them to dialogue. On May 6th, he wrote a letter to the Joint Unions inviting them to a meeting on May 13th. The meeting comes in response to a letter sent by the unions on April 22, outlining key demands related to salary adjustments, collective bargaining, and pension reform.
In a May 6 letter, the Prime Minister committed to engaging in dialogue, naming Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde and four other Cabinet ministers to represent the government in the upcoming talks. Briceno said government remains committed to resolving the unions' concerns through continued engagement.
But in a follow-up letter dated May 8, the unions-led by PSU President Dean Flowers, BNTU President Nadia Caliz, and APSSM President Sharon Fraser-asked the Prime Minister to provide a detailed meeting agenda and written responses to previous proposals by May 12. They noted that without those materials, the talks would not be productive.
Among the unions' main demands are an 8.5% salary adjustment for pensioners, teachers, and public officers, and a new collective bargaining agreement framework submitted last November.
If it proceeds, the outcome of next week's meeting could shape the course of ongoing public sector negotiations and determine whether labour peace holds or industrial action looms. To ratchet up the pressure, the unions are assembling members to stage a major national demonstration in Belmopan tomorrow - and we'll have full coverage on our live Facebook feed and in tomorrow night's news.
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