BELIZE CITY, Wed. Mar. 10, 2021– The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) has developed a plan of action for its members following the final budget consultation meeting between the union and the Briceño administration. In a release dated Wednesday, March 10, the BNTU laid out 7 steps to be taken by its members leading up to the scheduled budget presentation on March 26, 2021.
The release states, “The Government representatives, on one hand, are saying that the proposed measures are not a done deal; however, they are also saying that the proposals are necessary to meet their target. They were not amenable to changes to the targeted amounts in their proposals.”
Members of the BNTU are asked to wear their green shirts on days on which they report to school. The union will also be doing media rounds and Facebook livestream sessions, starting on Friday, March 11. Additionally, simultaneous motorcades, possibly countrywide, are scheduled to be held on March 16, 2021, starting at 9:30 a.m.
The union will also be hosting simultaneous candlelight vigils on Wednesday, March 24. Members of the union are asked to practice social distancing and hold the vigils within small community groups.
On March 26, on the day of the budget presentation, the BNTU will hold a press conference, after which further actions will be determined and made known to its membership. In an interview with President Elena Smith she shared that they will wait to see what will be the Government’s reaction to their proposals and position but ultimately the membership of the union will guide the decision of its executive.
“We cannot go to the table and accept anything without our member giving us that mandate, and so if it is that there is a change to that 10% then we have to take it back to our members and we have to hear from our members if they are willing to accept something less than that 10%. If they are willing to accept something less than ten then we can put that in the proposal but up to this point they are saying that they are not willing to accept a salary cut.”
In responding to the Prime Minister comments made yesterday concerning the public servants and teaching President Smith said,” I think the Prime Minister should understand that as a union we don’t just jump up because we want to jump up and our union BNTU have proven itself that we have been out there on the front line we have taken some lick because we have stood up for not just ourselves but for the entire country.” President Smith said