Teachers’ Union President Threatens Court Action Over “Union-Busting”

Luke Palacio

The Belize National Teachers’ Union is not in the very least pleased with the Ministry of Education after what it considers attempts to undermine the activity of the Union. The ministry made a direct appeal to school managements to keep schools open today, persuading wavering teachers and principals that there is nothing to lend support to. According President Luke Palacio, the directive could see them in court. Here’s what he told the teachers rallying in the Belmopan Civic Center this morning, and what he told us following the rally on Independence Hill.

Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U.

“And so they were not satisfied, they were not satisfied so the big boss decided that I am going to give a press conference and I am going to explain to them that the union is acting out of bad faith that the union has no issue, no issue on which they are going to strike. Then you ask yourself, does this guy really understand what he is governing about? Because it is established in the ILO convention that unions have a right to strike over any issue that affects its people. But you see the intention of Patrick Faber is that he must do all the wrong and he must be satisfied. But we are saying to him today, enough is enough and it stops today. And we are braving whatever it is today, we are braving all their intimidation. We want them to get one message loud and clear, the B.N.T.U. will seek its legal option and we are going to take this government to court for attempting to union bust. We are going to do that. Well all the efforts…I don’t know if you are living in Belize, but all the efforts that the government has been making, all the efforts that the ministry has been making is an attempt at union busting which is a violation. So we are going to seek legal advice and if we have to take them to court for union busting, we are going to do it.”