B.N.T.U. strike action continues into seventh day on Wednesday

Kathleen Flowers

The strike by teachers continue in the headlines tonight and we can confirm that the B.N.T.U. remains unmoved. This Wednesday, there will be a seventh day of strike action by the Belize National Teachers’ Union. While the Union continues to maintain its demands for good governance, there is a window since the union is open to meeting with the Government to discuss those demands, although it has rejected joining the umbrella National Trade Union Congress of Belize for such a meeting. The Union’s Council of Management was meeting into very late this evening but we obtained an interview with Belize Branch President Kathleen Flowers who detailed the work the teachers did today and their plans for Wednesday.

Kathleen Flowers, Belize Branch President, B.N.T.U.

“Industrial action continues across the country tomorrow, Wednesday, the Belize branch would like to take this opportunity to thank the parents, the students, all supporters who have been making the sacrifice with us to make this national stance for good governance as well as to address our union industrial issues. Our branch continues to maintain its strong solidarity in the strike action and our branch calls on all our members to come out and be a part of the activities tomorrow. At nine we meet at the headquarters and we plan our action for the day. We already have those on paper but our members need to be here so that we can execute the action effectively and let the strong hold of our branch be felt across Belize City. We continue throughout the day into the evening and we will proceed with an element of a vigil as has been done with other branches already. Our branch will determine the location and the level of vigil that we will engage in tomorrow evening. We again call ion our members who are committed to this cause to be a part of the protest as we continue our strike action for Wednesday.

Reporter

“So in terms of the specific plans for tomorrow, you will be meeting, will you be continuing the public education campaign and so on?

Kathleen Flowers

“that remains a focus for our branch and all the branches across the country because the more we educate the public the more they understand why we are doing what we are doing and so that is a sustained part of the strike action. We continue as well to encourage member to make effective reach out to shut ins, we continue as well to encourage our members to make effective reach out to homes and families and each one of us teach another one what this process is about.”