BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 15, 2021– The leadership of the Belize National Teachers Union is currently engaged in emergency meetings in order to prepare its union for the days ahead.

Reports are that in a membership poll, 90% of the BNTU's members voted for industrial action, and as a result the union is now gearing up for demonstrations and a one-day boycott of gas stations.

Last week we reported that the BNTU’s National President, Senator Elena Smith, informed the union’s members of the Government’s final decision. They were awaiting a response from the members and have since received their mandate.

Reports are that the union plans to walk out of classrooms near the end of the month. Prior to that scheduled walkout, a motorcade-style demonstration will be staged on April 19.

The Ministry of the Public Service sent out a letter to the unions with an outline of its proposed tiered salary reduction plan — with the size of the salary cut varying according to the amount earned by various groups of public workers, and it is asking the unions to give their response by Tuesday, April 20.

At this time, about 6,000 teachers are paid by the Government of Belize.