Belize National Teacher’s Union Votes to Put Strike on Hold

Keesha Young

The overwhelming number of branches of the Belize National Teachers’ has agreed to end their eleven-day industrial action as of this evening and return to classes on Wednesday morning. This follows a round of meetings of the Council of Management and, this morning, of the ten branches of the Union at the same time countrywide. Our reports are that at least eight branches voted to suspend the strike, while one appeared to vote against, though it too agreed afterward. This afternoon at a press conference, the union formally announced the end of the strike. Union President Luke Palacio reflected on the outcome and shared with us why Wednesday will be like they never left:

Keesha Young, Executive Secretary, B.N.T.U.

“The B.N.T.U. wishes to inform the nation that the membership has decided that we put the strike on hold and return to the classrooms on Wednesday, October nineteenth, 2016 while we keep a watchful eye over the execution of the agreements reached. The B.N.T.U. remains committed to our good governance and respect for the workers agenda and reserves its option to reengage industrial action if necessary. We wish to thank the almighty father for his guidance and divine interventions throughout this process thus far; we also wish to thank the Belizean public, especially our parents, who supported our actions to address out list of good governance, transparency, accountability and respect for the workers issues. The activities we engaged in as a part of our Stand Up for Belize Campaign and industrial action could not have been as extensive and successful as they were without the tremendous support of our parents, social partners and friends of the B.N.T.U. from across the length and breadth of Belize and our regional body, the Caribbean Union of Teachers. We sincerely thank you all. The B.N.T.U. remains vigilant and wants to sound the call to the rest of the nation to join us in keeping the fire burning in an effort to steer our country back on the right path to development and economic stability.”

Luke Palacio

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

“All the branches had their meetings this morning simultaneously throughout the country and the vast majority of the branches have voted to support this press release that we have issued and so yes, we definitely have the majority of the branches. And the one branch that sort of indicated that they were not too prepared to do that have also told us that they will go with what the majority of the branches would have said. And so basically yes the decision is by the majority of the branches.”

Reporter

“How does that work? You just show up, class doors open, students show up like nothing ever happened?”

Luke Palacio

“Well we walked out and we are walking back in.”

Reporter

“I ask because of what was asked last week with the teaching aids and all of that.”

Luke Palacio

“Oh ok, in relation to that, no I believe everything is intact. We haven’t gotten any report of vandalism and if we get reports of such we will have to meet with the principal of the institutions because they are the ones who had the keys or the management. So they can explain why if indeed there has been any sign of vandalism to our teachers’ materials that they use, their teaching aids, whatever else they have in their classrooms. Then we will have to ask them to kindly give us an explanation to that would have happened.”