One year ago unrest was simmering across Belize as the unions stood in angry and defiant opposition to a proposed budget that increased taxes while refusing them pay increases. Well, much of that was because last year, government put forth the budget in a consultative process, telling all the social partners about the bitter pills they'd have to swallow before serving out those pills. But, judging by the chaos that unfolded thereafter, that may not have been the wisest course of action and this year, government isn't consulting anyone. Loaded with tax bullets and bitter pills, the budget will come when it will come, most certainly after March elections, and 'who noh like soh, noh like soh.' So where does the Public Service Union stand in all this? After all, it is still owed the portion of an increment. So what's the union gonna do about it? Work discreetly, according to president Dylan Reneau.
Jules Vasquez,
The union movement in the last year has been effectively silenced because the government has made it clear that those who miss work, who participate in what they call an illegal strike, will have their pay docked. The government has outlasted you all, has out-powered you all, and has in fact outdone you all. Is the union able to pose any meaningful opposition to government to stop it from doing exactly what it damn well pleases?
Dylan Reneau, PSU President
"Well Jules I wouldn't agree with you that they outlasted us, we're still here, and we're still on the trail, but certainly we have got to be much more creative in the way that we do business, we have to be much more creative. The strike action alone cannot cut it because eventually that peters out, that is our biggest stick and it should be used as a last resort. But certainly we have been, maybe not in the limelight, but in the backroom trying to get certain things done because we realize that we have a role to play in this whole development discussion.
As social partners, as the trade unions, we have not been as vocal and I think people are expecting us to always be on the streets and that is a stressful time for people in leadership, especially myself. But everybody has to play their role."
Jules Vasquez,
Will you all be getting your money? Is there any money to get? Are there talks with government?
Dylan Reneau,
"Well Jules we had a meeting on the 9th of January with Minister Marin and at that meeting we had a very reasonable discourse and out of that there was a suggestion that we put in writing what was our concerns and options that we were putting forward for the resolution of the increment freeze dispute. We've done that and actually just a few minutes ago I was asking the Prime Minister if he has received our letter etc., etc., and where do we go from here."
Though the union sent a letter in early January, as Reneau noted, the Prime Minister, busy with his campaign, will not meet them until after the election.
