And what the PM may end up listening to is howls of protest. COVID regulations may limit mass gatherings, but the mighty BNTU is ramping up to protest levels. Its Council of Management has planned a series of protest actions including motorcades, press conferences and vigils.
This likely means the honeymoon is over for the Briceno administration as it enters a state of what could be protracted protest.
Briceno says - though he would wish it could be otherwise - he's ready for it:
Jules Vasquez
"Teachers are ramping up and they say they want the executive to feel the power that they have. Is this a situation that concerns you as these activities of protest and rejection of this wage cut starts to really amp up their campaign against this proposed cut?"
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"I expect nothing less from the unions and obviously if you want to touch their salaries, individuals in the private sector it's difficult for them to do that because they don't belong to a union but as the teacher's union, I do expect them to do that. I wish they don't, I wish we could find a way how we could address this. I would be just as upset, I am as upset as their are but we have what is in front of us and we need to find a way how we can solve it because if we don't, we can lead to some even bigger structural problems that then will create even bigger cuts on everybody and retrenchment and all of that and we are not a government of retrenchment, we want to try to hold on to everybody because if you lose your job right now, there is nothing out there right now."
Jules Vasquez
"But are you concerned that with the phase we're entering now where the unions are ramping up their resistance to your government's proposed wage cut, are you concerned that you will quickly squander the good will that you all were elected with?"
Hon. John Briceno
"Nobody wants to squander their political capital and we wish we would not have to do that right now but I do believe that whilst they are going to be upset with us right now, in the years to come, we have another general elections until almost 5 years from now, so we have enough time to be able to do the tough decisions right now and so that by end of year 2, starting year 3, we're going to start to see a much improved economy and much improved government finances, so then people can say okay, you took us out from that difficult time."
