Day 1 of strike finds most workers at work

In terms of numbers, they form the two largest components of Belize’s increasingly restive union movement. So when after days of suspense the Belize National Teachers Union and Public Service Union simultaneously announced their decision to go out on strike as of Tuesday morning, it looked like the long anticipated final offensive to unseat the government of Prime Minister Said Musa had finally begun. But in life–and particularly in politics–things don’t always go according to plan. And while the longevity of the Musa administration remains very much in doubt, today was not a good one for the unions and their supporters. We begin our coverage with a union rally in Belize City that attracted a smaller than expected audience.

Dylan Reneau, President, P.S.U.
?Power gives up nothing unless a demand is made of power. And we have been making demands but yet we have not gotten full resolution so we have to enforce those demands.?

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Under the blazing mid-morning sun, leaders from the National Trade Union Congress, the Belize Communication Workers Union, the Public Service Union, and the Belize National Teachers Union addressed their members at Battlefield Park in downtown Belize City.

George Frazer, General Secretary, N.T.U.C.B.
?God is on our side because we are for justice, freedom and to liberate our people.?

The union rally is part of a national shutdown called on Monday by the P.S.U. and a teacher strike staged by the B.N.T.U.

Anthony Fuentes, President, B.N.T.U.
?Yes we love our children, but there comes a time in our life when we need to stand up for what we believe in and this is one cause that we are standing up for.?

And according to the unionists, what they are standing up for is for the government to step down.

Paul Perriott, Pres., B.C.W.U.
?The National Trade Union Congress made a call and as a part of the National Trade Union Congress we di support all the sister unions with the calling for the removal of this present Cabinet and new elections where we could get a direction as to where we move as a country.?

Janelle Chanona
?Now since that call went out, Government hasn?t budged. Are you all prepared for a long run in maintaining this campaign??

Paul Perriott
?Well definitely. Today is the beginning of it. As you should know by now countrywide, demonstrations like these have been organised, and this is just the beginning, the first day of that I think all out demonstration and protesting again towards what we are asking for.?

?We could negotiate with them and let them know why we want them to resign, and maybe they could get an understanding as to why and we could make an agreement that they resign and we call new elections. I think that?s the bottom line, that?s all we need to talk about in there.?

Janelle Chanona
?In your letter to Marcial Mes yesterday you stated several points as your reasons for calling for a national shutdown. Is your call an ultimatum, nothing less than meeting all your points, are there points you are willing to negotiate on or this just about the resignation of the Prime Minister at this point??

Dylan Reneau
?Certainly we would want to achieve some of the reforms, some of the issues we were dealing with but at the end of the day, we are of the firm belief and the N.T.U.C.B. is of the firm belief that these politicians are not serious. We are going to ask again for them to do certain things, and if they don?t, then they would have to comply with that letter where we ask them for their resignation because you can?t say you are doing something and not do it and then not expect for us to be surprised when we ask for your resignation.?

But as the morning wore on, the number of supporters clearly fell short of the union leaders? expectations. Some presidents pointed to intimidation, others, to confusion.

George Frazer
?I no want like the last time, some ah them seh, I deh with you, I deh da school, but I no di teach. That da stupidness! You deh with me, you deh with me out yah.?

Dylan Reneau
?We are on strike, we do have members out here, along with the B.N.T.U, the B.C.W.U and some of the other unions are involved. So the strike is on.?

Janelle Chanona
?According to the reports from your members, what is the status at government offices countrywide??

Dylan Reneau
?The status is, and I will not mince any words, there are offices open. We have not gotten a hundred percent support for the strike, but irregardless of that we do have members that are supporting the strike and you have to understand that these things start small, but eventually they can end big.?

Anthony Fuentes, Pres., B.N.T.U.
?It?s not a hundred percent closure of schools here in Belize City, but from the other branches of B.N.T.U., a number of schools are closed. In fact, the branches from the west, both Benque and San Ignacio are in Belmopan, they have joined Belmopan to show solidarity so they are in Belmopan. In Dangriga there are a number of teachers that are out, in the Toledo District and Orange Walk, I think, and also Corozal.?

Janelle Chanona
?Why is the support not one hundred percent? Has certain branches or certain members gone against your endorsement??

Anthony Fuentes
?My personal opinion, maybe it?s not something really close to home like the previous strike action. We had the issue of our salary increase, which the teachers fought for, last time we spoke about the issue of taxes, and the issue of reform. This one, a number of teachers who spoke to me said B.N.T.U. is not directly affected. But as I mentioned to them, this is a national issue and it?s going to affect all of us because the increases in telecommunications rates will affect all the teachers and the Belizean population on a whole. ?

Janelle Chanona
?Talk to us about how this is going to affect the students and what you would say to the parents who are concerned, especially since you said this would go on for an indefinite period, how it will affect the children?s education??

Anthony Fuentes
?Teachers as usual have been doing their part, when they are in the classroom. They always try to play on the sentiments of the teachers reference the students. But we also have to understand that the teachers are part of the equation and the teachers have to stand up for their rights. I would say to the students, who are out there that they need to continue to study and review their work. I know that the second part of the Primary School Exam is coming up and also CXC, so they will have to continuously review their notes that were given by the teachers. To the parents, I?m asking for their support, we?re not only doing this for the benefit of teachers, but for all Belizeans on a whole because at the end of the day, B.T.L. should belong to Belizeans, the majority shares should be held in Belizean hands.?

Tonight, the unions continue to call for support from their members and say they will monitor the situation closely.