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Courtney Menzies was on the ground this morning and has this story.

Over 3,000 - that's a rough estimate by the Belize National Teachers Union of how many of their members came out in full force. The streets of Belmopan turned green as teachers marched through the capital in the largest crowd we have seen in almost two decades - even passing in front of the Sir Edney Cain building just as the inaugural session of the House of Representatives was underway.

The union's president said it was a larger crowd than she anticipated, and she thanks the Ministry of Education's CEO for the extra boost.

Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"I must tell you, they have exceeded my expectation. I have to thank the Ministry of Education, after that interview yesterday, our numbers went up by more than 25%, teachers weren't happy at all. And I'll tell you what the teachers have shared with me via text messages, the government saw what the CEOs were doing and gave them an increase without them asking, then our teachers are saying, have you all been asking? We have been and no attention has been paid to us. So since we're asking, we're not getting it, then I'm coming out so we can demand it. So the numbers are here because that's the message we're sending. And this is phase 1."

In her interview, Dian Maheia stated that the CEOs didn't request their raise - it was given to them as an acknowledgement of their hard work. Well, Caliz said where's the acknowledgement for the teachers?

Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"They found the CEO's response to be very arrogant, I didn't ask for a raise, my boss gave me, and now they want to demonstrate against me. In my view she should have kept quiet. but since the boss recognizes her good efforts even though we have people suffering right now with increments and stuff like that, our teachers are saying, boss, you didn't recognize me, it's the same boss. So this is animal farm kind of mentality, that's what we're seeing happening."

Reporter:
"But do you think they can make way in the budget to accommodate 8.5%?"

Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"If this was up to Ministry of Education, you'd already know what would happen, because she's talking already. You know what would happen if it was up to the Ministry of Education. But what I need her to do is to take out of whatever millions there and let's start fix the issues in education, the real issues. And let's start get after managements that are abusing these teachers. Let's start getting after those managements that are not fixing these classrooms. Let's confront the elephant in the room because what you all do now, because this is why I'm fired up, some of these managements are not doing their job as managements. And they side with some of these managements and condone the ***obscenity*** and that's why you see them now running to managements because I cover your dirt, you cover my dirt. That's the ***obscenity** going on but the BNTU is telling you we will not be silenced, we will talk about it because you will solve it. No more of these blame games, and under the table you're friends. No man, we're not into that at all."

And for the BNTU, it seems they're taking hits from all sides. The Catholic managements of their schools have indirectly implied that they will be deducted a day's wages for participating in today's demonstration. But Caliz came swinging after them as well.

Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"I always hold back when it comes back to the Catholic management but I will tell you this today, a lot of these teachers who work under the catholic management cannot even get their income tax for years, years I tell you, and I stand behind that. They need to do what they need to go to give better service to their workers and then the repairs of those buildings, most of them are done by these teachers. A lot of their classrooms, I want you to tour this country and go to Catholic schools and look at the conditions of those schools and tell me, every time it comes to this, they want to threaten the teachers but these are the teachers that take care of those classrooms for them. That letter, let me swallow that."

But that implied threat didn't intimidate the teachers that came out. They say they're willing to risk a day's wage if it means getting what they deserve.

Teacher
"We want to ensure that we get the raise that we deserve because year after year we're in a classroom and we have to provide our own equipment, our own posters, everything we have to provide. It's about time we got the raise."

Teacher
"I came out here because I know that we have a right to get our money back because the prime minister already promised us the 8.5, we were supposed to get more but we know that he can't lose his promise, we already sacrificed most of our increments for him, now it's time for us to get our money because the CEO, all of them are smiling, why are we negotiating for? We negotiate every year, every minute. We don't need to negotiate. Most of the times we negotiate, oh lord, it takes long. We don't need to talk now, it's time for us to get our money."

Teacher
"Fire the CEOs and pay the teachers, times are hard out here, we work hard."

Now, the ball's in the government's hands, and their team will be meeting with the joint unions on Tuesday. If all goes well, Caliz says it could potentially be the end of their industrial action.

Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"We will be meeting with the team because the letter speaks to them going back to Cabinet for a decision to be made. But we will be meeting and then we will be presenting to them once again our demands."

Courtney Menzies:
"What's the main demand you'll put on the table?"

Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"Every single thing there is equally important. So we're not going to say this is the main demand, everything that is there, we want."

"We go to the table and based on what happens at the table we agree that JUNT will meet and then we'll engage in phase 2 based on what they bring to the table."

Reporter:
"So that negotiation could be the do all, end all of this."

Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"And that would be perfect for this group of demands because we still have the CBA, several issues to address under the collective bargaining agreement. So that's another round."

Reporter:
"And at the end of the day, these teachers want to be in the classroom?"

Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"They do, to be quite honest with you, they do. But they believe that they have not been treated with respect so it's time for them to show that they do not appreciate disrespect."

And they've got the solidarity from their sister unions - a few members of the PSU joined the demonstration as well as the president of the CWU.

PSU Protestor
"We want our salary increase, we want everything that is for us. We work hard. You know how much people are working in the ministry and we don't get hazardous allowance or hardship and different things? We're working for those, we're walking for you, for your kids, for the future, for equal rights and justice."

Courtney Menzies:
"Are you disappointed that it's a few of you, not as much as maybe the BNTU or a crowd?"

PSU Protestor
"It's enough, where there's one, where only one person is, it's still a fight. Once you're willing to fight for something, it's still a fight."

Courtney Menzies:
"Do you feel like a lot of your members are afraid of being victimized?"

PSU Protestor
"Of course they're afraid of being victimized."

Courtney Menzies:
"So they would be out here if..."

PSU Protestor
"They're there wearing their yellow, you all should go look around and see who have on their yellow."

Leonora Flowers, President, CWU
"As a sister union it's important. This was a national issue and so CWU has its own issue that it needs to bring to the table but we recognize the important of the issue, the important of people getting paid for what they worked for is one of the biggest issue today and so CWU recognizes its duty to come out here and show solidarity with its peers."

Courtney Menzies:
"What do you make of the pay increase of the CEOs and the Cabinet Secretary?"

Leonora Flowers, President, CWU
"I could say a lot but in one word I will say disrespectful, disgusting, and unconscionable."

After the inaugural session of the House of Representatives, the union then went as close to the Edney Cain building as the cops would let them, hoping that the members of parliament would see, hear and feel them. Police held the line and the teachers shouted, but did not push too hard.

Around 11:15, the crowd began to disperse. But on Tuesday, we'll know what the next steps will be for the BNTU.