(l-r) Nadia Martin-Caliz, National President, BNTU and Dean Flowers, President, PSU
Joint Unions give PM until June 4 to come back with
“improved” salary proposal
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Jun. 2, 2025
On Saturday, May 31, the Joint Unions Negotiating Team (JUNT), which represents the three public sector workers unions, wrote Prime Minister John Briceño giving him a deadline of Wednesday, June 4 to return with an “improved and defensible [salary increase] proposal.” The JUNT reaffirmed its demand for an 8.5% increase after notifying that all three unions, the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), the Public Service Union (PSU) and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM), unanimously rejected the Government’s counter proposal of a 3% salary increase starting October 2025. The JUNT also insists that the salary adjustment be applied to pensioners.
As it relates to Government’s proposal to reinstate a frozen increment at the start of Fiscal Year 2026-2027, the JUNT reminds that three increments remain outstanding and it “looks forward to engaging … on a clear timeline for reinstating the remaining increments.”
The unions have also asked that, if a meeting is to take place to advance negotiations, for it to happen no later than June 7.
On their demand for an increase in the minimum wage to $6.00, the JUNT acknowledges the Government’s stated commitment to first consult stakeholders, but says this should not delay action “to ensure that all public officers earn a dignified living wage.” In an extended interview on Friday, PSU president Dean Flowers clarified that they represent public sector workers, and, as such, their appeal is for Government to immediately increase the minimum wage in the public service. “It was to say that you, as the Government, as the largest employer in this country have a duty to set the bar and to treat your workers with some dignity and respect,” declared Flowers. He added, “All government workers should be above the minimum wage because of the public service they provide!”
Notably, on the matter of the salary increase demand, Flowers is making the call for Government to award the increase only to union members if it insists it cannot afford a payout for the entire public service. According to Flowers, the number of unionized employees is around 5,000 to 6,000 compared to the wider staff that is over 16,000 who Flowers says, are “not asking them for nothing.” To the argument that the Government would never consider this, as it would lead to an increase in unionized public officers, Flowers said the Government should welcome it, as “you would have a more informed workforce”, which he says could lead to an improved public service.
The PSU voted on the Government’s counter proposal of a 3% salary increase on May 28. According to Flowers, close to 50% of its almost 2,000 members voted, and 92% rejected the proposal. As to action being taken as a result, Flowers says they are already demonstrating their discontent with the manner in which negotiations are proceeding. However, he says they have a plan that can escalate to disrupting work, which may be engaged based on the response to their May 31st letter to Government.
On Friday, BNTU National President, Nadia Martin-Caliz joined in solidarity in the demonstration held by the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union. She took the opportunity to refute the claim made by the Prime Minister that the BNTU membership is holding their students hostage. “Honorable Briceño, governments, both red and blue have been holding us hostage!” she emphatically stated. She continued, “You have been sending us into poverty! When you look at our classrooms, we finance those classrooms.” Martin-Caliz said that when she met the PM in 2024, she told him that a teacher with an Associate Degree cannot live a comfortable life in Belize. The union leader accused the PUP of not living up to the George Price legacy of respecting workers.
While the time is nearing for schools to be closed, Martin-Caliz affirmed that their movement is about survival, “so even if the schools are closed, we are not going to give up on what we are standing up for.”
The JUNT has accepted the response of the Government on its other demands. On the matter of Cabinet’s approval of a comprehensive approach to future negotiations to be based on Quality of Life and Productivity metrics which would include a Cost of Living formula, income tax relief, land access and housing programs, the JUNT says it looks forward to constructive discussion on the proposal, and also requested a position paper from the Government outlining how the comprehensive approach can be implemented.