Teachers will meet to decide on course of action

While students of tertiary level institutions have demonstrated their support for the B.T.L. workers, this afternoon, unionised teachers from the Belize District threw their collective support behind the telecom workers. The activists met in emergency session at B.N.T.U. headquarters this afternoon, after which branch president Elena Smith told News Five’s Patrick Jones that the purpose of the meeting was to find out the level of support members are willing to give the B.T.L. workers.

Elena Smith, President, Belize Branch, B.N.T.U.
?We can give as much as is needed. Tomorrow we will be having a council meeting where all presidents will be meeting and then we will decide where we go from there. But right now the teachers have said they are willing to go as far as they need to go.?

Patrick Jones
?Does that mean then that teachers are prepared to exit the classroom again in mass protest action??

Elena Smith
?Well that will be decided tomorrow at our council meeting. One branch cannot say that we will go. We will wait for the other branch presidents to make that decision and based on N.T.U.C.B. then we will go that way if that is necessary.?

Patrick Jones
?As president of the Belize Branch of B.N.T.U., what is the sentiment, or what is the feeling that you are getting from your membership??

Elena Smith
?Our members are in full support of the B.T.L. workers. Because the issue has now become not a B.T.L. issue, but a national issue and so because we as members of the Belize branch have shares in B.T.L., it will affect us also. And for that reason, because it has become a national issue, because we have interest in the company then they feel that they must give as much support as they need to give and they will do that.?

Patrick Jones
?Now do you think that the Belizean people will be as forgiving this time around of teachers if they should go out on strike again? Do you think people will be as forgiving as the last time??

Elena Smith
?Well in everything we do we have some who will be with us and some who will be against. We have some who will be against for their own reasons, probably for political reasons, I don?t know, but that?s a part of what is going on. If you are going to fight for your country then you have to do whatever it takes. And you have to expect that whenever we put up a stance like this, that these things will happen. People will not agree with us, some will agree with us but you need to do what you need to do.?

Following their meeting, the teachers walked over to Princess Margaret Drive to show their support for the B.T.L. workers.