News Five Looks Back at the Strike of 2016
Elena Smith
We have been following the joint union’s strike actions very closely over the past couple of weeks. Today marks the thirteenth consecutive day that the Belize National Teachers Union has been on strike. It is historic, because the last time the B.N.T.U. engaged in strike action, it lasted for eleven days. On Tuesday, News Five looked back at the strike actions of 2005. Tonight, we take you to 2016. News Five’s Paul Lopez has that report.
Elena Smith, Belize District President, B.N.T.U. [File: September 5th, 2016]
“We did our rounds, all our branches had meetings and as far as I am aware, based on reports that we have received; that majority of them are saying that they want their adjustments now because the monies should have been there. The money should have been there and so our teachers, a lot of our teachers are not happy right now.”
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Three days later, all ten branches of the Belize National Teachers Union met to discuss the delay of government’s salary adjustments for teachers and public officers. Other national issues, outlined in the B.N.T.U.’s eight-point agenda, were also on the table.
Luke Palacio
Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. [File: September 8th, 2016]
“The Council of Management believes it is high time that our unions start to address a number of issues, including quite a number of national issues that almost all Belizeans speak of on a daily basis. There is the matter of the Prime Minister asking the unions to defer their salary adjustment. We have difficulty agreeing to that. There are a number of many other national issues that we see plaguing this country. We keep on talking about it; and we need now to be able to come up with a concerted effort to try and address it.”
Industrial action was looming. This was of concern to the then Prime Minister Dean Barrow.
Dean Barrow
Prime Minister Dean Barrow [File: September 12th, 2016]
“This matter was discussed with the Joint Unions Negotiating Team, with the presidents of all three unions involved who represent government’s salaried workers; that is the A.P.S.S.M., the P.S.U. and the B.N.T.U. Government did not at the meeting say to them we are not going to pay you. We made a request that they consider, in view of the hurricane, a deferral of the salary adjustment, the amount of which and the principal of which had already been agreed.”
Unlike this year’s united front, in 2016, the A.P.S.S.M. and the Public Service Union were not siding with the teachers. They voted in favor of deferring the payment until the start of the 2017/2018 fiscal year. These are adjustments that were due in June of 2016.
Michael Finnegan
Michael Finnegan, Minister of Housing [File: September 13th, 2016]
“The teachers want their raise, don’t want it deferred. Let me use the proper word, they don’t want their increase to be deferred. The PSU and the other group say we would, mek we defer it. So two are saying mek we defer and one says we don’t want to defer, so I think we will have to try to meet with all three organizations again so as to come up with some kind of solution or some final answer then, I should say final answer.”
Only two days later, B.N.T.U.’s executive announced the union’s intention to converge on Independence Hill in a mass demonstration. A Joint Union meeting was held with the Prime Minister the following day. And on September nineteenth 2016, thousands of teachers marched in protest.
Luke Palacio
Luke Palacio [File: September 19th, 2016]
“It shows that the Belizean people are serious about what they want, in terms of good governance; we need to stand up for our country. We see the many issues that are negatively affecting this country; we need to deal with those matters.”
A meeting was held with the Prime Minister the day after Independence Day. Thereafter, B.N.T.U.’s executive went back to consult with their membership. Those consultations were followed an all day session with government representatives. Yet nothing was accomplished and the B.N.T.U. served notice it would be taking industrial action.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow [File: September 26th, 2016]
“I therefore urge the B.N.T.U., and I am here appealing to the wider membership and not just the Council of Management, to call off this destructive crusade.”
With the A.P.S.S.M. and the P.S.U. in agreement about deferring the salary adjustment, B.N.T.U. conceded. But, the union’s eight other demands remained live issues. B.N.T.U.’s first day of strike action on Monday October third began with a scene eerily reminiscent of the worst of the 2005 riots.
Geovannie Brackett
Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA [File: October 3rd, 2016]
“What happen is that like every viewership we came out here, and we saw the bridge blocked. So we like any other person standing by, we were entertained by it. So we were watching it – then the police will arrest two of our people dehm. And Sticks was all day with those guys over at the Teachers’ Union. So we have an alibi. This is complete injustice.”
Reporter
“So who’s the guy that they took?”
Geovannie Brackett
“They took Sticks – you know Sticks from Days of Healing. And they took “Big Jun”, from our group C.O.L.A. and from Go-Off Sounds. This is complete chance.”
City Schools became ghost towns and B.N.T.U. proclaimed their first day of strike action a success. Still, there was no resolution on the teacher’s eight point agenda, so they continue to strike for the next ten days. U.D.P. stalwart Alfonso Noble protested teachers being out of class.
Alfonso Noble
Alfonso Noble, Protestor [File: October 11th, 2016]
“You see, it might seem funny, it might seem like a joke that it’s only me and “Yellow Man” and Allan Kelly and my brother out here, but let me explain something to you: this is four persons standing for a belief that thousands of Belizeans have out here. Let me explain something to you: this is the start, you know? The teachers need to go back to school.”
On October thirteenth, the unions and the Prime Minister met where some agreements were reached on the union’s eight point agenda.
Dean Barrow
Prime Minister Dean Barrow [File: October 13th, 2016]
“…Point number two was that an international investigation be conducted into what is being described as the apparent connection and involvement of ministers of government with Danny Mason. We’ve agreed that we have no difficult, government that is, in trying to source some external assistance for such an investigation.”
By October eighteenth, B.N.T.U.’s membership called for an end to the strike. Teachers were called back to the classroom.
Keisha Young
Keisha Young, Executive Secretary, B.N.T.U. [File: October 18th, 2016)
“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.”
Reporting for News Five I am Paul Lopez.
