P.S.U. says essential services will function
With government employees being asked to stay off the job over the next two days the question arises of what about essential services like police, fire and medical care. According to Public Service Union president Dylan Reneau, there is no reason for citizens to worry.
Dylan Reneau, President, P.S.U.
“Being a responsible union we have tried to work an agreement on how we will deal with that situation and we certainly will not shutdown any hospitals or any essential services. What we want to have is a token or a skeleton staff there to ensure that the services carry on. But still we want some of the members of those organisations to be out there to show a united front.?
Stewart Krohn
“Let’s say air traffic controllers; they will be working? Planes will still land??
Dylan Reneau
“Yes, they will be working.?
Stewart Krohn
“Immigration officers at the airport and border points??
Dylan Reneau
“Yes, a token staff.?
Stewart Krohn
“What are you looking to gain from this exercise??
Dylan Reneau
“Well, we are trying to get the Government to understand that we want the reforms that we’ve been asking for to be implemented. The fact that we can’t accept any more taxes–the way how the system is set up appears as if though only the poor and the working people who are paying majority of the taxes. We want this tax resume to be more balanced where everybody in this country has to bear that burden. Basically, at the end of the day, we also have an issue where we are trying to get our collective agreement dealt with; get the last salary increase.?
Stewart Krohn
“It has been alleged by some that what you’re really interested in most is getting your salary and the taxes are really just a smokescreen. What’s the highest priority for union??
Dylan Reneau
“The priority are basically as the we set it out right now. Reform, we want the system to be changed. I drew the illustration this morning on Love FM that in 1994 we were in this situation. Only the Public Service Union faced the full grant of those corrective measures. Now we are here in 2004/2005 in a similar situation, but even worst; magnified is occurring now. So they must be something wrong with our system and we have to get rid of the mismanagement and the corruption and our reforms as they were put out there will address this issue. And I think that the politicians don’t necessary want to let go of that power because some of those reforms were basically streamlined and developed check and balances to these ministers who have now become somewhat of a demagogue in our society.?
Members of eight unions affiliated with the N.T.U.C.B. have been asked to participate in a demonstration at Friday’s meeting of the House of Representatives in Belmopan. On Thursday, the B.N.T.U. is asking all teachers from the Belize District to take part in a protest march scheduled for eight thirty in the morning at Memorial Park in Belize City.
