Fonseca Calls Union Letter “Unprofessional and Political”

Francis Fonseca

Last week, the unions responded to a letter issued by G.O.B. concerning other compensation for the salary cut coming for teachers and public officers this pay period.  The unions’ response does not sit well with Minister Fonseca, but he says that cabinet is still open to dialogue.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“They responded to that in a manner which I really describe as unprofessional and in my view, very political. A very political letter, very personal; I don’t think that helps anyone. So the government, the cabinet is always open to dialogue. As the Minister of Education, I have an absolute obligation and duty to work with the Belize National Teachers’ Union and I am absolutely committed to doing that. I can tell you that throughout this strike period, we have had meetings in terms of the ministry personnel and the union – as you know the teachers union sits on many of our boards, the National Council for Education. And whenever we have had these meetings, they have always participated. That continues to be the case. So we are going to continue to work with them, with the unions across the table, the joint unions in good fate. If there are any other issues that we can work on together to better assist the public service union, the teachers union, then we are prepared to do that. We absolutely, as we have said from the beginning, respect the role of the unions.”