Stann Creek Teachers Protest Against G.O.B.’s Proposed Salary Cut
The Belize National Teachers Union is still devising a national response to a proposed salary cut by the government for teachers and public officers. But that did not stop a number of teachers in the south from converging in the Culture Capital Dangriga. News Five’s reporter Duane Moody and cameraman Kenroy Michael were there to capture the action as the educators voiced their discontent.
Duane Moody, Reporting
A resounding “NO” could have been heard from a distance as primary and high school teachers from Stann Creek came together for a motorcade through the principal streets of Dangriga. They are echoing the position of the Belize National Teachers Union on a government proposal.
Denise Henry
Denise Henry, Organizer
“The teachers of Stann Creek District asked for a voice and they are getting that voice to show that they are not happy and they are not accepting the proposed ten percent salary cut for three years plus in addition the increment freeze for another three years. We have already given up one year; so that would be a total of four years. So that’s why we are here. We are saying “NO” to that first proposal.”
The motorcade was about a mile long and also included a group of teachers from San Pablo Roman Catholic School in Toledo. The teachers say that they too have been affected by COVID-19 and a cut is unthinkable.
Mario Bol
Mario Bol, Teacher, San Pablo RC School
“Our salary is already small. We use some of our salary in the classrooms and so this ten percent that they are talking about taking from us is the leftover for the next month. So that’s gonna be too much for us; no salary cut for us.”
Ifasina Efunyemi, Teacher, Ecumenical High School
“We have a right to speak up. Nobody asked me how I was impacted by COVID-19 and I continued to teach throughout this pandemic. I continued to have all my expenses plus incurred additional expenses for myself as a teacher to improve the kind of service I provide to my students. I do not appreciate a government telling me that now I must take this ten percent cut. What about them? What are they doing? All of them that enjoy all the privileges, the additional bonuses and things that they gain because of the position that they hold. I don’t get those benefits. I don’t get some kind of subvention or anything having to do with fuel provision or my housing or communication. All of it, everything that I need to survive comes from that same salary that now they want to touch. I am not going to accept that. I have not stopped paying my taxes; they did not stop, they did not hold back taking my taxes.”
While the group got the required permits from the police department to carry out the motorcade, there were efforts made to prevent the protest from happening.
Denise Henry
“Whenever people want to voice how they feel, many times they are threatened and there are lot of efforts to keep them quiet. But we are here this morning to say that we will not be quiet. It didn’t work with us and it is not going to work with the teachers from Stann Creek District. We are here this morning to prove that; they tried, they are still trying, but remember even Jesus had opposition so we are prepared for the opposition.”
But are the teachers being unreasonable given the current state of the economy? Ifasina Efunyemi and Denise Henry say that they are open to negotiation.
Ifasina Efunyemi
Ifasina Efunyemi
“When we have a government that looks at all possible situations, all alternatives and when it then appears that we are all sacrificing equally, equitably – of course, we are not unreasonable people. But come with something that shows that we are all taking this pinch together. Don’t just look at me because I am an easy target for you – you think I am an easy target – so now you want to touch my salary. What about your salary and all the other things that you enjoy?”
Denise Henry
“There are many options, many things to look at so I don’t want to divulge into that at the moment. But all we are saying today is that we will have to negotiate. So we are saying no to the first proposal, but we are not saying no to negotiation.”
The teachers have registered their discontent with executives of the Belize National Teachers Union. Duane Moody for News Five.
