Yesterday, we brought you the results of the meeting between the GOB negotiating team and the joint unions - they'll be getting their increments, it's just a matter of when. And both teachers and public officers are waiting with bated breath, hoping that the Cabinet agrees on April 1st.
And yesterday, teachers from the city took their lunch break to stand in front of the House of Culture, where the meeting was being held, to show their support. It was no large demonstration like we're used to seeing, but they say that no matter how little crowd, they all share the same financial concerns.
Tanya Flowers-Gillett, President, BNTU Belize Branch
"It's very important, I mean teachers have been living paycheck to paycheck including myself, I mean our increments will allow us to have a better living conditions compared to other people out there who are receiving all the big bucks out there and we are still on the same. And I do believe that we must give back in a time during the COVID but if its us only feeling the lick of it, I mean everybody should."
Reporter:
"Why aren't there more people out here?"
Tanya Flowers-Gillett, President, BNTU Belize Branch
"I can't tell you why there are more to be honest but its a request that was sent out to all the members in our branch during their lunch time if they are free during that time to be out here to show solidarity."
Bernard Bradley, Teacher, Wesley College
"As it relates to our financial situation, our increments has been frozen from under the UDP administration and so COVID was used as an excuse to further hold our increment. In addition to that, we had a wage freeze for just over a year and so all of this has impacted our financial capabilities. We know that inflation, prices are going up so it is cumbersome, it is difficult for us to manage our finances as it relates to the high cost of living so it's important for me to be out here even in small numbers to impart upon the persons in government that we need our money. We are suffering. As teachers, we have to lend support to our students, we have kids someone to school who are not eating properly, we have students coming who do not have the basic equipment and these are things as teachers we used to help with, now, none of that is possible because our finance is very limited."
"We are here now at this point in time because this is when we are free from teaching so those of us that are out here from Wesley it's because we are free right now, but I'm sure during the course of the day, other members will come out when the time is available to them."
Cabinet will be meeting next Tuesday, and after they will give their decision to the unions.
