Tonight, at this hour, the joint unions and the government negotiating team are at the House of culture in Belize City, locked in negotiations that started four and a half hours ago.
But, the dynamic changed yesterday when the PM made a statement that incensed the unions. They say it wasn't done in good faith. So, whatever hope they had for a resolution by Friday, seems to have gone out the window.
Their anger was palpable and audible when they marched through the streets of Belize City today. Courtney Menzies was on the ground and has this story:
The highly anticipated third meeting between the government and the unions took place this afternoon but as usual it kicked off with a demonstration from the joint unions.
The crowd of over 100 marched from the Yaborough Green Basketball Court, to Albert Street, and circled back to the court.
And just before the 1:30 meeting started; the union leaders rallied their membership. Fuelled by the fury of the PM's late evening address yesterday, the leaders made it clear that this impasse would not end soon.
The BNTU president described this move by the Prime Minister as cowardly and called on him to organize a press conference to finally face the media.
Elena Smith - President, BNTU "He has showed how coward he is by going to the media by putting a document that should have come to the joint unions for us to be able to refute and take a position on it. He chose to go to the media wherever he did his address to say to us this is what we are providing. Why is it that we can't know what we are doing, why can't he face the union? Why can't he face the press? But it seems as though Prime Minister does have some talent. He find some from somewhere. But if it is he truly have talent, tell him to come and face the people. And so let me make it very clear that the party, it seems that they forgot where they came from and how they were formed."
The PSU president reminded his membership that this country does not run without them and that the government does not get paid if they don't sign off on it.
Gerald Henry - President, PSU "The politicians can't even get paid their salaries if we public officers don't process the salary. They can't even get their allowances they can't even get their allowances, the aloe to my net salary, the allowance alone is my net salary, they can't even get that if we don't process those payments. They can't leave this country if an immigration officer doesn't not stamp that passport."
The presidents of the NTUCB and the APSSM also shared some words of the importance and duties of the unions.
Luke Martinez - President, NTUCB "This country was built on the backs of trade unionism. That is how this country was built. When we were going for independence, the union played a very important role in our independence."
Sharon Fraser - President, APSSM "As leaders, we will do what is responsible by you. We will continue to represent you as best as we can and just understand that in fact despite what is being said out there, what we go with on the table is what you have given us instructions to go so that at the end of the day the power do rest with you members and what it is you would have told us to do when we go into that room."
After the short rally, the unions trekked to the House of Culture where they protested outside while the meeting took place within.
