It was to have been a mighty show of strength and a national shutdown of schools and public offices today after the PSU and the BNTU declared indefinite strikes last night. What's more, the utility unions were to have joined in for what was rumored to be a national shutdown. Well, it never happened, government offices and schools were opened, and there were no blackouts, phone outages or water stoppages.
The government reports that 99% of public servants showed up for work, and the Ministry of Education reports that school went ahead as planned in most of the country with absences reported only in Belize, Cayo and Dangriga. And even if you don't accept government figures, what the Union Leaders had to accept is that their membership largely ignored the call to action. So what went wrong? Well we went to the Belize City rally to find out.
Dylan Reneau, PSU President
"Certainly what you might see out here, because we seem to put a lot of emphasis on numbers, but it shows that the spirit is still alive. We still have the support of our membership and we will continue with this thing through."
Anthony Fuentes, BNTU President
"As you can see the turnout of the crowd out here today. But I wouldn't say it has failed because some teachers have responded to the call."
Jules Vasquez,
But certainly it is not as effective as the actions that you all called in January and February. What accounts for the fall off?
Anthony Fuentes,
"I would say the first strike was more closer to home, I would say, despite the fact that we had two other issues, we called upon the issue of reform and the increase in taxes. But the previous strike was more closer to home."
Closer to home and that's where teachers were: at home or in most cases at school. But certainly not here as the crowd basically stood around for two and a half hours until the speeches started. After those two and a half hours, the still modest crowd swelled slightly to include BTL workers and onlookers. That's when union leaders took the bullhorn to the modest crowd of about 150, earning applause and giving them a strong and unflinching message.
Paul Perriot, BCWU President
"Deh yah people need fi get lock up and you know deh noh wah come out ah government, dah cause they know that of the labor unions and people whe really got Belize at heart tek over the country right now, we will find a way to lock them up. We will find a way to put them dah jail."
And while the media, local and international, was there to amplify the rant, the fact is that the teachers either didn't hear or didn't believe that they should come out and support.
Jules Vasquez,
You had more teachers at your meeting yesterday in Belize City. Is the low turnout a product of intimidation tactic by the government warning that the strike is illegal and you may lose your job?
Anthony Fuentes,
"Well probably that might be an issue why they are not out here."
And indeed, government did send this very strong message in a message last night.
[George Frazer and the UDP have their own political agenda. Don't put your jobs at risk for their own political gains.]
So were the unions outwitted by masters in the political craft?
Dylan Reneau,
"We are not a political party and they have these strategies, the resources, to mobilize and do as they are doing. We are not a political party. We are trade unions. We are basic organizations that get hold of issues and push them. Certainly the political parties have shown their superior skills in coercing people through the media."
Jules Vasquez,
You all have a strategy of how to keep the momentum going and how to increase it?
Dylan Reneau,
"Certainly we have our ways within the trade union movement of doing it. You will recall the last time it did not happen en masse, it built up. These things don't necessarily always start en masse. It will be assessed later today. The council of the NTUCB should be meeting later today to reassess the situation and see if we need to reengineer the plan so to speak."
Jules Vasquez,
Where do you go from here because with the low turnout of teachers you have, people will lose morale and yes its in Belize City but Belize City has the largest concentrated membership. Will schools open tomorrow? Will your membership show up tomorrow?
Anthony Fuentes,
"A lot of time we just talk, talk, talk, and when its time to act and come out and show their support they don't. They don't and this is what is affecting all of us in Belize. We have to stop take that laid back attitude and be much more proactive. This is not only affecting teachers but all Belizeans. The tax increases will cost you more but we have to stop the talking and begin to act. Otherwise if we continue like this then we won't make it. We won't achieve the objective that we set out to do."
Jules Vasquez,
But will the teachers heed that advice and will they act tomorrow or will they just go back into school?
Anthony Fuentes,
"What will happen is that the NTUCB will have to call an emergency meeting and assess the situation and then we proceed from there because its not only BNTU, its all the affiliate unions who should participate in this action in order for it to be effective."
Dylan Reneau,
"Certainly Jules you would want to say our confidence is a bit shaken today but we are people that don't give up. From January to now we have not backed down and we have kept the torch burning, so to speak, so I am not phased by what has transpired today."
And true to message, by the afternoon, the unions had regrouped and the united leadership of the trade union congress held a joint press conference where the message of unity and militance was back on display. Alfonso Noble will have that story in our next segment.
