B.N.T.U. Pickets Cabinet Meeting
Members of the Belize National Teachers Union were once again absent from the classroom. Today, day two of the teachers’ strike action, saw teachers walking from the Battlefield Park in downtown Belize City to the House of Culture where cabinet was meeting inside. We spoke to Branch President for the Belize District Branch, Tanya Flowers-Gillett about today’s picketing and their possible loss of earnings.
Tanya Flowers-Gillett, B.N.T.U. President, Belize District Branch
“What we are doing today is an education campaign. We started from Battle-Field park and we are distributing our information flyer, know the facts. After which we will do a small picketing around the house of culture today.”
Reporter
“What is the importance of that? What is the message you want to send to cabinet on the second day of the B.N.T.U.’s strike?”
Tanya Flowers-Gillett
“We are sending the same message from day one. We are asking for good governance, corruption to come to an end, the implementation of UNCAC, nepotism to stop, financial accountability.”
Tanya Flowers-Gillett
Paul Lopez
“Has it been determined, a timeline of this strike, in terms of how long will you guys carry this out?”
Tanya Flowers-Gillett
“No, not yet.”
Paul Lopez
“Any indication as to whether pays will be duct for striking for however long?”
Tanya Flowers-Gillett
“Well obviously you know, if we are out of the class room, obviously the Government will deduct our salaries.”
Paul Lopez
“But has that been confirmed?”
Tanya Flowers-Gillett
“I am telling you we are out of the classroom so they will deduct our salaries. It has been done in the past so.”
Paul Lopez
“Is the consensus among your teachers that they are willing to take this salary reduction?”
Tanya Flowers-Gillett
“Well, we are out here. You saw what happened yesterday. We are standing up and we have our purpose for why we are standing up.”
Paul Lopez
“Is the Union prepared to compensate teachers for their time out here?”
Tanya Flowers-Gillett
“Um, I will not respond to that question at this point. All we know is that the Union has our back.”
