And while Air Traffic Controllers walked off the job in Ladyville, this morning in Belmopan, striking teachers and public officers walked around Ring Road.
It was another day of protest as members of the joint unions brandished their flags, and blasted their union songs through Capital streets.
P.S.U President Gerald Henry discussed the long-lasting effects of the wage cuts.
Gerald Henry, President, PSU
"What is happening is that the teachers have been down this road several times before, not to say that PSU has not been, but it's been quite a while. We were in as you in sort of a coma for quite a number of years, so we lost some of our organization and so on and of course our membership has been getting the understanding of the need to come out and we need to start do a better job with educating our members as to why it is that they should come out to support the cause that we are actually fighting for. We also let them understand the power that they have, because that's where they are actually falling. They are not realizing that we are the ones who if we are missing for one day out of our jobs, the crisis that will take place in this country any government will have to go back, will have to call us back to the table to discuss whatever issue. That will be final offer at that time. You will have 20-25 years to go suffering each and every year from this 10% cut and increment freeze. So it's not only 3 years and I don't know if they are understanding that. It will affect their pension, their gratuity - every single thing, not to mention the economy as is. Government could very well come back in 3 years and said well I need another 5% another 15% from you to pay for their cronies, because we public officers we see that they are hiring their own people. How can you tell me you have a financial crisis and you have a bloated wage bill, but you keep hiring people who just come into the service and they are making more money than I am."
A letter from the Prime Minister to the Joint Unions yesterday reiterates, quote, "any public officer continuing to strike beyond May 14, 2021 will not be paid any salary for any period on strike thereafter."
