Earlier on we told you how the PSU and BNTU's plan for a national school and public service shutdown failed. That was this morning, but by this afternoon the union leaders had regrouped and reaffirmed that their movement is undeterred. They said as much when they took over the tail end of a Belize Communication Workers Union press conference.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
In a conference room at the NDFB building packed with teachers, BWS and BTL employees as well as other observers, Union Presidents walked in one after the other to re-commit themselves to their national struggle to see the government resign and call new elections.
Mark Butler, BEWU President
"This is not about the BTL issue. We send the government of Belize the letter of resignation stating the reason why we are requesting for the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to resign. So let us not lose focus about the main issue. These are their diverting tactics to keep us divided and stray away from the main issue. So people let's not think this is only about BTL. If you all could see, while all this was happening something went on with the PUC and BEL. So if you all are sleeping, this government has no good intention. They will keep on doing things under the table and while we are acting on one thing, they are doing something else. So let's stay strong. We got to protect each other. Same way how we come out for BTL and we come out for the NTUCB, if we understand they are looking to let go some of those teachers tomorrow I di request that all the unions come in solidarity and march over there immediately and make sure that each employee here today in this struggle has a job tomorrow and to the time of retirement age. If we give up now they're going to trample on us. They're already doing it so it means marked for death. So let's stay strong brothers and sisters and let's stay in solidarity and move with any request that the NTUCB arrive at."
Anthony Fuentes, BNTU President
"The Belize National Teacher's Union stand in solidarity and support with the BCWU. In fact the Council of Management voted and we are in solidarity. Solidarity forever. United we're going to bargain. Divided we're going to beg. Let's stand together in unity."
Dylan Reneau, PSU President
"I have to say certainly I am in solidarity with the NTUCB, the workers at BCWU, and I have to also say the Public Service Union is on strike but it appears as if though we're not on strike. It's a dilemma that most of us don't understand the full gamut of what is happening in the public service but I firmly believe that we will work it through if we stick to our guns, if we hold strong. If we act together as one we can overcome because what we are doing is not wrong. It is definitely right but it only takes a few start and a lot to finish. But the PSU perspective, we are going to hang in there and I know that public officers will eventually come around and we will see this thing through."
Russell Young, BWSU President
"As President of the Belize Water Services Union, we are here today to show our solidarity and support to the NTUCB with regards to the movements on the reform that we have not gotten from the government. But I must start to say this straight and plain now, all the unions collectively made a pledge to the NTUCB to supporting this cause. All unions must continue to work together and stick together because what happens it looks like some of us are being afraid and is backing off. One is just watching the other to see what the other will do. The Presidents must get back together to the table, reconfirm their positions, and if they are to go at this head first, let it be full speed ahead. We all in the union are sacrificing a day's wage pay. You can do the same for whichever organization you work. Your employers must also decide to sit with you. If everybody get together and sacrifice a day or two pay, we will achieve what we want to do. So if we do not make our stand now and go full speed ahead, might as well we throw in the towel and rub it in. Sit with your family at home, talk with your friends, sacrifice a day or two pay, keep out of work, the employers should do the same, and see how could put our country back on the right track."
Paul Perriot, BCWU President
"We must stick to our guns. We must again congratulate Presidents of the unions and reaffirm our positions where we will go from here and how long this fight will last. As we said earlier, this is just the beginning. This is the first day of our call and we the unions should have joined hands in solidarity for one cause. The BCWU, as I said earlier, stands in solidarity with the NTUCB and together we will attain what we have requested."
George Frazer, NTUCB
"We have hundreds of our teachers from Benque, San Ignacio, and Belmopan there waiting. They're asking what's happening with the others. We're hearing that we must go on. Our Council of Management has voted that we will go on. Only the weak will turn back. We will stay the course. We continue the fight tomorrow. The other teachers who have been intimidated you come out, come to BNTU office tomorrow, and we continue until government get the sense and do the proper thing: resign and go back to the people."
And while the unions call for no turning back, the call is tempered by another, asking that there be no acts of sabotage on the utilities as well as no violence.
Mark Butler,
"We are discouraging any form of acts of sabotage. We don't want anyone to sabotage our system. That is our aim at the NTUCB. We want a peaceful demonstration. So we want the media and everybody, all the radio listeners out there, to understand that we are here in a peaceful revolution and we are discouraging any acts of sabotage to any of the utility systems. For the record straight, we want to get that clear."
Anthony Fuentes,
"The NTUCB way is through dialogue. We do not endorse any form of sabotage or looting or violence. We need to discuss the issue so at the end of the day we will come up with an amicable solution to our problem."
Russell Young,
"We do not condone the violence because even at the company where I work it was stoned, many glass broken, and I do not like that because we are not in this to destroy the employers. We are in this so that we can save our nation because with this Prime Minister continue leading us I do not know which investor will continue to come into this country."
As a side note, while the Belize Communication Workers Union were the ones initiating this latest round of agitation, they were not fully on strike, largely because they are not being allowed in to work. Well, their position changed today when Union President, Paul Perriot announced that his membership will be walking out of BTL,that is, we assume, when they are finally invited back into their workplace which remains shuttered and under police guard.
