Teachers Union Heads to Court Over Salary Cuts

Attorneys-at-law Magali Perdomo and Darrell Bradley will be representing the Belize National Teachers Union in their case against the Government of Belize over the ten percent salary cut.  The case comes up next week. Following today’s Senate Meeting, B.N.T.U. National President Elena Smith shared some details of the case.

Senator Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.

“The matter was filed in court, and we are looking at the matter of the ten percent, and we are simply looking at it from the angle of the contracts that our teachers have signed. Teachers, we know they do sign contracts, and those contracts indicate what their salaries should be and for what period. And, as such we are saying, because you have contract, for the Government to just go and cut your salaries, it has an impact on the contract you have signed. And so that is the angles we are using in going to court.”

Paul Lopez

“How many teachers have contracts?”

Elena Smith

Senator Elena Smith

“All teachers have contracts, for you to be employed you must sign a contract. And so it is covering for right now, we are looking at the denominational schools. But, we are looking at teachers across all levels.”

Paul Lopez

“What is the level of success you anticipate in court?”

Senator Elena Smith

“Well I think, you don’t go to court if you don’t expect to be victorious. So, I hope that we will be victorious in this one.”