As you just heard, the unions finally have a response for the government - one that, according to Minister Francis Fonseca, they've been waiting for, despite the PM saying that their last offer would be their final: take it or leave it.
And whether the government will take this response into consideration and follow it up with another proposal is left to be seen. Today, the BNTU president, Elena Smith, was waiting on the steps to personally hand deliver that response to the PM.
But while she was tightlipped about it, she did mention that it contained a counterproposal and some clarifications.
Elena Smith, President, BNTU
"We will be sharing details as soon as we deliver the letter to the PM. We have asked for him to take some time to receive the response and then we will be sharing the entire response shortly."
Reporter
"Do you think he will meet with you guys because up to now he has not joined any of the consultations."
Elena Smith, President, BNTU
"He explained that he has a team and he has sent out the team, but I believe as unions, when you get to a certain point and you see that things aren't working out that's when you as the leader steps in. So I guess it is probably hope that maybe good sense will prevail and decide that he wants to meet with the team."
Reporter
"Can you at least say if it's another proposal that you're putting forward?"
Elena Smith, President, BNTU
"Well what we did is a response to what they sent to us and so we responded to their undertakings and we highlighted some of the other areas that we had not gotten to having much discussions on, we highlighted those areas as well."
Reporter
'After you give this response, do you expect to go back to the negotiation table next week?"
Elena Smith, President, BNTU
"Well I am hoping that when you get a response then there is going to be a response to what we sent to them. In the same way that we have responded to him prior, they would have responded to us in the same manner, so that is also expected."
Reporter
"Do you see an end thats coming soon to the strike and a resolution - that suits both parties?"
Elena Smith, President, BNTU
"I can't speak to an end to the strike. What I can say is that if it is that we want for this matter to be completed, we want for teachers to return to the classrooms, then there has to be discussions. It can't be that you expect that people would just step back without proper documentation, proper resolutions, proper agreements."
And if you're wondering if they're still fighting against that 10% cut - along with the need for good governance - well, Smith said that they haven't given up hope just yet.
Elena Smith, President, BNTU
"There are several things that we are looking at and I think sometimes we tend to overlook some of the other areas and we try to focus on one thing, but there are other things that we are looking at. We have said before that it is not just about our salaries, but it's about the other areas that we are looking at that would ensure that our country does better, we are better financially and those are the things that are striving towards and so those are the things that we are not giving up. In the process of doing so we have ensured that our members are properly dealt with and that if it is that compensation is to be discussed then it has to be proper compensation for what it is that we are giving up. People, a lot of times failed to recognize or fail to understand because they put partisan politics in everything and they failed to recognized the work that we do and the sacrifices that we make continuously from year to year, I have been doing stuff for over 35 years, so seeking a compensation is nothing out of the way, it's nothing bad, but people tend to look at it as oh, we are just greedy and it's all about money. We work hard for what we have and we give a lot from what we have, so it's only right that we look at those things in a proper manner as well."
Reporter
"But are you still fighting to not get this cut or have you accepted that it's passed in the house, the law is going through the house now and that it will be coming one of these upcoming paydays?"
Elena Smith, President, BNTU
"I believe that many of our members have gotten to that point where that has been the understanding, but in everything there is always hope that other things can be done."
But she shouldn't hold her breath since an internal memo from the Ministry of Education is informing primary, secondary and tertiary level schools that the 10% cut will take effect June 1st.
That memo also reminds managing authorities that attendance records from May 17th onwards must be clear and accurate since teachers who have been on strike during that period will have their salaries docked in the June 30th payroll.
