Joint Unions Meet With GOB: “There is a Way Forward”

Dean Flowers

The Joint Unions Negotiating Team met with its government counterparts today to discuss the state of the nation’s finances and the reinstatement of the ten percent salary cut for public officers and teachers. The meeting was held at the House of Culture in Belize City and ran for four hours. At its conclusion, we were able to speak to President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers. He gave no specifics, saying only there is now a proposed way forward.  

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“There is a process through which each Union must go before we can make public pronouncements. Unfortunately, with respect to that process I am unable to make any public declaration on the outcome of today’s meeting. What I am able to share is that once again we had a very informed and detailed meeting as it relates to government finances, fiscal policies, and the financial position of the country. We go to our membership tonight and we inform them exactly what is government’s position as it relates to those issues. I believe, anytime after tomorrow, we may be able to then get into further details as it relates to the discussion held today, which spans in excess to the ten percent and increment freezes that brought us here today. The discussion did entail other topics of great importance to the Joint Union Negotiation Team, and also the public service union and some of the issues we are facing there.”

Reporter

“The Joint Union side, of course, came here wanting to revert the ten percent. Are you able to confirm if at this stage the government side is making any proposals in regard to that that you must put to your membership? Or, what you are putting to your membership is just saying these are the numbers of how things look like?”

Dean Flowers

“I think for the most part we are beyond the numbers. I think the conversation today focused on the way forward. There is a way forward, and like I said, we will have to relay that to our members in an accurate a manner as the government team relayed their position to us.”

Paul Lopez

“What do you anticipate is your next step in short term in terms of engaging with the government, or this the final meeting in these short term meetings?”

Dean Flowers

“In relation to ongoing meetings with the government, I believe it would be fair for me to say that this is a process that will continue throughout the term of this administration, because this is not a onetime issue whereby you can fix the many issues that brought us here. What we are appreciative of is that the government conceded to that.”