Prime Minister Says Unions Need to Move On

The Prime Minister has been criticized for not engaging with the union leaders in meetings.  Today, Open Your Eyes hosts asked PM Briceño about the status of matters with the unions and where they go from here.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We have done everything we have been able to do. In my last letter I told them that that is the final offer we can do and that we need to move on. We have a government to run; a country to fix; people that are in poverty that need to get back to work and we are moving on. As far as we are concerned, we are always open to listen to the unions. We can’t finish something and then they come and send you another letter; that was very political and very rude. Now they want eleven points. We are moving on! I am sorry. We have great respect for the unions and the work that they do. I know that they have their political group that they have to pander to or their union members but when you look at their zoom meetings, I don’t think ten percent of their members are involved.”

Isani Cayetano, Host

“Why did you not see it fit throughout the process to sit at the table with the unions in one of those discussions, at least to say well you know what, I am here let me hear from you directly as opposed to them only interfacing with representatives of your government?”

John Briceño

John Briceño

“You have the most senior ministers of my government – you have the deputy prime minister; minister of education; minister of public service; minister of state in finance that does the technical work – to be able to address these issues. Now, I am prepared to come in to them if they are saying let’s sit down and end here. But I will not go in an environment where I am going there and to just continue to talk and they bring another list and they want this and they want that. Guys, unu have no clue how hard I am working – the long hours that I work pretty much every day from early to late at night.”