This morning, our colleagues from Plus TV in Belmopan caught up with Elena Smith, the President of the Belize National Teacher Union, right after she left a Senate Meeting.
She was asked about the feedback coming from teachers and she said that the initial reaction from the union's membership is that they can't take a pay cut:
Hon. Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.
"In terms of a matter like this that would affect our teachers all over, so in essence a national issue that we are going to be dealing with in terms of the teaching profession. We hear from our members, we get their mandate and what it is that they tell us is what the council then must go ahead and do. Just to make it very clear, because I think sometimes people don't understand how we operate. As the president, I am not the person to determine whether we will accept or not accept any proposals. The membership gives us their views, their position. The branch presidents then take those positions and bring them to the council of management, the council deliberates on those decisions that members would send in to us and then from there we move forward."
"As we negotiate you would understand that there is not just one position you are negotiating. You have to have other options in the event that something changes, so our council we've done that survey, we sent that memo to get their feedback and we are expected to have that ready by today, because we meet tomorrow and we have to look at what it is that the members are saying to us in terms of what they want us to do as a union."
Reporter
"What are the initial reactions that you've received from your members?"
Hon. Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.
"The first reaction has been no to salary cuts. Point blank. And I can't say it any other way. Our teachers are saying at this point in time they cannot afford any salary cuts whatsoever. We understand that the country is in a serious situation and our teachers are concern that you know what it's a bit unfair because we did not create this situation, but we have to be the ones to suffer it seems for those decisions that were made on our behalf and so while I cannot go into any further discussions or reporting on what would be or what are the other recommendations I know for sure that initially that has been the first reaction."
The BNTU is currently conducting its own consultation process for its counter-proposals, but reports are that in Dangriga Town tomorrow Stann Creek District teachers will be protesting in a motorcade.
