Today the joint unions and the government of Belize entered into talks about their April 1st ultimatum for the reinstatement of their increments. But, the unions also chose this day to flex just a little, with a sickout at the Courts, the Treasury and the Belize Tax service.
Now a sickout is not a formal type of industrial action so it's hard to judge how effective it was - but we do know that it closed down the biggest court in the country - which is the Belize City Magistrate's Court.
The Chief Magistrate is also the president of the APSSM - and was a part of those talks with the government's negotiating team today. When that four hour session was finished, the media asked her about the effect of the sickout:
Sharon Frazer, Chief Magistrate
"I was informed this morning that members of staff did not show up to work this morning. I personally had to go and open up the office. So, clearly I would not have been aware of that fact that they were not going to be there. How it impacts the public? Well, we had to adjourn matters. So while the police were there, magistrate had shown up. They address the persons who were there. My only concern would have been the detainees, because when I inquire when I got there is that they had taken back those who were detained. I am on my way back to the magistrate court right now to see how I can address those who have been detained and would have been eligible for bail. I would at least have a conversation with the police to address those who at least can get police bail and then try to figure out how I can deal with those who would need the intervention of the court to get bail."
"My understanding is that the persons they called in sick, so from my admin officer the information was that persons called in sick. I cannot tell them that they are not sick. They are not happy and this is the way that they've shown that they are not happy, but as you see I'm here trying to negotiate to ensure that public officers get what they are asking for."
