Public Service Union Says They Will Strike as Long as Needed

Dean Flowers

This week it was the teachers. Next week it will be the Public Service. News Five has confirmed that P.S.U. members will begin their strike action on Monday, May third.  Their concerns are similar to those of the N.T.U.C.B. which has expressed its solidarity with the joint unions.  In a release, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize called for the implementation of a social partnership agreement that is based on a tripartite model, the ratification of UNCAC and the removal of ministerial discretion from tax, land and labor-related issues.  Furthermore, the N.T.U.C.B., through its release is calling for redistricting, and reviewing of existing voters’ re-registration list, the implementation of an aggressive tax reform exercise and the rationalization of imports.  As for the P.S.U.’s fight for good governance, Vice President Dean Flowers says the P.S.U. strike action could go on for weeks.

Dean Flowers, Vice President, P.S.U.

“When you are on a strike Paul there is nothing in a law that stipulates that it is for one hour, one day, twenty-four hours or twenty-four days.  If it is that public officers, which includes, police officers, B.D.F., coast guards, nurses, doctors, the good folks from the Civil Aviation Authority, the lab technologist in the public sector, the people in the financial sector, if it is that these public officers have strong conviction for good governance and understands that you cannot be a price on good governance, then this will be a strike we proceed with for the long haul.”