JUNT: What Happens Next for Negotiations?

Dean Flowers

Will the February fifteenth meeting between negotiators from the government and the unions alter the union’s position? This morning on Open Your Eyes, the Union leaders were asked – what’s next?

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“There is a lot that needs to be discussed with this administration and a lot that will be discussed and as a leader; I will not allow any administration to think that they can simply come and impose more pain on the people that I represent.”

Sharon Fraser

Sharon Fraser, President, A.P.S.S.M.

“I am hopeful. I can’t tell you what will happen beyond Wednesday. I am looking forward to that meeting. I am hoping that it is very productive and as Brother Dean is saying we go with clean hands and hope for the best.”

Elena Smith

Elena Smith, National President, Belize National Teachers Union

“We must remember that we pay taxes as well. If you want to look at reforming pension, you have to also look at tax reform. And that has been our position that we have to look at tax because we pay twenty-five percent off the top. We don’t even see that; before we get our pay that is out, while others are paying six percent. So we like to talk about oh the businesses are suffering, but we end up paying the hundred percent increase in goods and all of those kinds of things. We expect that the government team is going to come to those meetings with a collaborative mindset. They are not coming in there to dictate and say we will do this and do as what they did the last time and pass a law because that is not how we should be working.”