Unions join forces to challenge Gov’t

Next Tuesday, more than ten thousand teachers and public officers are expected to hold a national demonstration and rally in Belmopan. The move is being organised by three unions: The Belize National Teachers’ Union, the Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers. In a press conference this afternoon, union leaders maintained that the demonstration is in response to what they have labelled “slow and insensitive” negotiations with Government about salary increases, benefits and cost of living adjustments.

Margaret Ventura, President, Public Service Union

“We feel the lack of consultation, meaningful consultation, is what has us where we are right now. And the matter of the joint negotiating team has been ongoing for the past fourteen months. The Unions have concluded that after all these months, we have reached no progress, no positions. And so, driven by the membership, we will be taking action on Tuesday in Belmopan.

The issue of salary negotiations is a burning one for the Public Service Union, along with other members of the joint negotiating team. However, independent of the salary negotiations, there are other issues that public officers are generally displeased with and feel that their union has been totally disrespected in the decision-making process.”

All teachers and public officers have been invited to attend a demonstration in Corozal town on Friday and the main rally in Belmopan on Tuesday, March twelfth. According to the unions’ representatives, fourteen months ago they handed a set of recommendations regarding the salary changes to the G.O.B. negotiating team, but to date have not received any positive response.