Impasse Remains on Proposal to Defer Salary Adjustment
Dean Barrow
Ahead of Monday’s demonstration, a marathon session of meetings was held today at the Biltmore where Prime Minister Dean Barrow met with leaders of the various unions that comprise the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. The meeting with the N.T.U.C.B. commenced at ten o’clock this morning and lasted until about one p.m. Shortly before three o’clock the membership of the Joint Unions Negotiating Team filed into the boardroom where another round of negotiations, this time concerning the salary adjustment for teachers and public officers, was held. This meeting was the more anticipated of the two since it precedes a massive demonstration organized by the Belize National Teachers Union on Monday. The B.N.T.U., despite today’s sit down with PM Barrow, is proceeding with its planned rally in Belmopan. After an hour and a half of discussion, the prime minister emerged from the boardroom and gave News Five an interview. Frankly put, while the meeting was productive, the PM was unsuccessful in convincing the B.N.T.U. to agree to a deferral of the final tranche of a three percent payment under the salary adjustment regime.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“I think it was useful, I think it was constructive. There is a proposal government has offered as a way of trying to break the stalemate where two unions have voted one way and the B.N.T.U. have voted the next. The B.N.T.U. has promised to take that proposal back to its membership and give us a response as soon as they’ve been able to consult and that’s where things now are.”
Isani Cayetano
“We were made to understand sir that all stops would be pulled to get everybody on the same page insofar as one position. Do you believe that that was accomplished this time around or where do we stand insofar as trying to reconcile with everybody?
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“I can’t say anything more than I have just said. The B.N.T.U. is going to take government’s additional proposal to its membership. Unless and until they accept that proposal there is no way anybody can claim that the split has been reconciled. So we simply have to wait and see what will be the B.N.T.U.’s response to our effort to try to get unanimity.”
The government has money to squander and waste but refuses to honor the agreement made with the teachers.If PSU wants its share next year, o k, given them next year but give the teachers what they deserve. A lot of money was used before the election last year, now find that money to pay teachers. Government wants teachers to be considerate, but yet we see government vehicles up and down during weekend at night, during celebrations during holidays. A few weeks we heard of a minister’s $100 000.000 car ended in the sea. Are they responsible? New ministers are being employed, caretakers are being paid from our tax money, and too many other wastage is taking pace in government, yet the teachers must wait.