Tuesday April 19th And with BTL workers still on their walkout tonight there is the possibility that teachers could soon join in the industrial action. Communication Worker's Union President Paul Perriot this afternoon addressed the Belize City branch of the Teacher's Union. He explained the position and after in a show of solidarity the teachers marched over from the BNTU's office on Coney Drive to BTL on St. Thomas Street. They sang their union songs and showed their protest Union President Anthony Fuentes led the procession.
Anthony Fuentes, BNTU President
"The Belize National Teacher's Union is in solidarity with the Belize Communication Worker's Union and this is one way how we are showing that solidarity to the Communication Worker's Union."
Elena Smith, BNTU Belize City President
"We are here in support of the workers of BTL, the BCWU, because we know that what they are going through is affecting us and what they will go through will affect us. Our teachers have said that we will support BTL to the fullest. Whatever it takes, we will do. We are supporting because as persons who are living in this country, we as Belizeans, we will suffer and our workers are fighting for us and we need to stand up for them and fight for the country. This is not one person, this is not a one union thing, this is not a political thing, this is a national issue and as Belizeans we need to learn when to stand up and we need to learn when to fight. If we don't fight now, then we won't ever fight. Its now or never."
Anthony Fuentes,
"We will be having an emergency meeting of our council of management tomorrow and then you will hear from us as the Belize National Teacher's Union. Teacher's are in support and they would like us to go the full nine yards but as I said BNTU is made up of 10 branches and tomorrow we will be having our Council of Management meeting and we will need to update the other presidents from the other nine branches and then we will be making a decision tomorrow."
That Council of Management meeting is tomorrow morning. The Public Service Union's Council of Management is also scheduled to meet tomorrow.
