Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Culture
"I'm a member of the governments negotiating team with the joint unions so let me say this, that as a government, we have always acknowledged and respected the right of the BNTU to advocate for better terms and conditions for their membership. That is their role that is their mandate given to them by their membership. So we respect that we acknowledge that."

"So, I really I'm really disappointed that in my view the BNTU has really, I think broken faith with, with those good faith discussions that we've been having broke I think the thrust of those discussions, the negotiations, and I think, you know, when they do that, they risk losing the support of reasonable people, the public, as well as, I think, losing credibility with, with this government and with future governments. We have always treated them with dignity. With respect. We have always I can tell you, as the Minister of education for the last four and a half years, we have always worked with the BNTU to resolve any concerns they have, any issues that they raise. We have worked with them to try to address those concerns and issues in a respectful, meaningful way. So I think the risk there is that they will lose credibility. The governments will, as this government and future governments. What is the purpose of working in good faith? What is the purpose of treating you with respect and working with you and trying to resolve issues? If at the end of the day, you still your position is we will strike, we will protest, we will disrupt. You know, so I really hope that that, you know, good faith will prevail and that, we can resolve these issues where they should be resolved around the negotiating table."