This morning at 10:00, the teachers from the Stann Creek District gathered with their neon signs at the Gulisi Museum in Dangriga Town.
And while this looked like the beginning of a normal protest, the teachers instead decided to make their voices heard through a motorcade which paraded around the streets of the town.
Their message? That they do not accept the proposed 10% salary cuts and increment freezes for the next three years. They are demanding that GOB go back to the drawing board to draft another proposal with the welfare of the teachers in mind.
And while there was no rally or fear of students missing a day of school, the protesters hoped that the government negotiators heard them loud and clear before going into a meeting with the BNTU this afternoon.
Courtney Menzies was in Dangriga and has this story.
The teachers of the Stann Creek District are out in NUMBERS with a resounding "no" to the salary cuts proposed by GOB. And while COVID wouldn't allow them to protest in the street, the teachers staged a long and winding motorcade through the streets of Dangriga Town - with their vehicles bearing defiant Bristol board signs, and car horns blaring loud enough, it seemed, to be heard all the way in Belmopan.
Denise Flores Henry, Leader, Stann Creek Teachers
"The message for today was simply to say: GOB your first proposal is not accepted."
"There is an important meeting today at 2pm with the government side and our BNTU and our teachers felt that they needed to show their discontent before this meeting so that government can hear our cries and keep that in mind when we negotiate today at 2pm."
And while to some it may have seem like a small procession, Denise Henry, who doubles as the president for the BNTU Stann Creek Branch, explained that the rural teachers needed to show their support from home so that they could abide by COVID regulations.
Still, they had more teachers than they were initially allowed by police. But even with those numbers, will this protest hold the same weight as those in the past? Henry believes it will.
Courtney Menzies:
"In the past when teachers protested it was a big deal because now the students have to stay home, but now they're already home. Do you feel like you've lost some type of leverage because of this?"
Denise Flores Henry, Leader, Stann Creek Teachers
"Oh no, with the way social media is today it gives us even more leverage because our students are in tune to what's happening from social media and so we really and truly can reach out to far more now. So there's no loss of leverage at all, in fact we've probably gained."
The teachers are now asking to go back to the negotiation table. And while they understand the state of the economy and the fact that some cuts may take place, they said they deserve an input since they work harder now that classes are online.
Denise Flores Henry, Leader, Stann Creek Teachers
"I am a mother, I am a teacher, and I am the president of BNTU [Stann Creek Branch] and I will tell you the most work I'm getting is from being a teacher. When I get up in the morning, I have my first set of students and I will be real with you, you teach a class and after that class, it doesn't end there, all day you get questions and concerns. And now with technology and being online, they have access to you all day till you stop answering your phone so it's far more work for us now than being in the classroom."
One of the teachers said that even though she is at home, she still needs to take money out of her pocket.
Ifasina Efunyemi, Teacher, Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College
"I have to pay my rent, I have to pay all my utilities, everything. And the expenses that I have incurred since COVID started, in terms of my teaching, in terms of ensuring that the software is installed and taking care of my laptop and everything so I can teach at the best of my capacity. All of that has been at my expense. So it isn't fair for the government to say to me now take 10% cut."
"When I wanted to get the full Microsoft package, I had to pay for that, if I want to have the proper Zoom, I have to pay for that, all the software that I need o that my classes can be done well, it's on me."
"I don't get the privilege of having living allowance, recreation allowance, communication allowance. If I had all the allowances no problem, but I don't get all those, everything for my survival is from my salary."
Another teacher is of the opinion that cuts should be the last resort, and more consideration should have been made.
Mario Chuc, Teacher, Red Bank Christian School
"When you start to cut things, anything, you have to know the consequences, it's not just cutting things. If I cut your microphone, if I cut your fuel, you can't go interview far, so everything has an effect, it has an effect in your daily lives. The way you take care of your home, the way you take care of your students. Because when you talk about cuts you talk about money and money is what allows you to live comfortably and do your job to your best. So when you cut it has a universal effect. So you have to be careful how you cut. It should be the last resort."
Efunyemi said that one of the steps the government could have taken was to consult the teachers.
Ifasina Efunyemi, Teacher, Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College
"I wanted to ensure that the government registers my discontent. You see they didn't come and ask me, Ms Efunyemi, what do you think about this proposal, what ideas do you have? Contrary to what was said about us about limited talent, I'm a very talented person, I'm a highly thinking person, come to the teachers, draw from your population input about how to solve your problem."
Up to newstime tonight, the meeting between the government and the unions was still ongoing. The BNTU will be meeting with its membership later tonight.
