BELIZE CITY, Mon. May 10, 2021– A meeting between the Joint Unions Negotiating Team and the Government of Belize officials ended a little prematurely on Thursday afternoon of last week. While the meeting was expected to extend into the late evening, it came to an end after the Government tabled new proposals to the union leaders.
The unions continue to reject the Government’s move to cut 10% of salaries, even though the administration has adamantly proceeded with the reduction. The first of the cuts were expected to be seen in the May 15th salary cycle; however, GoB has confirmed that they will not touch salaries while the unions are on strike.
The Government has tabled three drafts of good governance legislation and has presented two so far. The unions are in receipt of a draft Whistle-Blowers Act and a draft Asset Recovery Act, and are awaiting the draft of the Campaign Financing Laws.
The government side also proposed the offer of a promissory note equal to the 10% salary cut, with a possibility of interest.
The officials from the Government’s side will take those proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday, May 11, and the unions have since presented those new offers to their membership over the weekend.
Negotiations between the two parties are set to continue on Thursday, May 13.
While the parties seem to be approaching a middle ground, Elena Smith, national president of the Belize National Teachers Union, said that the teachers are still firmly opposed to the salary cuts, but will seek some alternative forms of relief if there are no other options.
“We are fighting as hard as we can, but if it is that there must be that cut, there is no other way out, there is no way for us to challenge it in any way, then it’s best that you get some kind of compensation for that, if that has to be the result.” Smith told the media.
The president of the Public Service Union, Gerald Henry, has told local media that the union coordinated a session with its membership to inform them of the advancements made in the negotiations at the meeting on Thursday. He stated that while the government proposed the additional concessions to the Joint Unions, the unions’ membership largely did not accept those new proposals, given that the salary cuts were still on the table.
He mentioned, however, that they may budge if the government moves to accept some other proposals submitted by the union, which are aimed at softening the impact of the salary cuts on the workers’ ability to cover their daily expenses and sustain themselves and their families.
“I think that what we could probably see, make some progress, if is the Government accepts some of the other proposals — like reducing some of the electricity bills and water bills and those other day-to-day expenses that we have, in order for us to identify some saving at the end of the month based on those things. So while there may be a reduction in the expenditure for the government, since they control the utility, they can reduce by 2% the utility, reduce by 1 %, just as an example, so at the end of the day we will still be getting back that 10%, but just in savings in the different expenditures that we have on a monthly basis,” Henry explained.
He also referred to the constant rise that is being observed by Belizeans in prices of essential goods in the stores, and called on the government to control those prices.
“Also, very important thing is for them to control the prices. Whatever it takes for them to control the prices of goods in the grocery stores — these prices are going up almost every week, right, and it’s straining our public officers. There must be some sort of price control effected — hopefully a reduction in the taxes that these merchants place on items, because that is what is actually killing us,” Henry shared.
The union members were expected to engage in a survey over the weekend after being updated by their leadership on the new proposals tabled by the Government. As mentioned, these proposals will also be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday of this week, and a meeting will follow on Thursday.