This afternoon, the government ended more than a decade of negotiations when it signed a new collective bargaining agreement with the joint unions- that's PSU, BNTU and the APSSM.
The only problem? They took so long to sign it that the new CBA is already old! It will expire in a few short months!
But, this afternoon at the House of Culture there was still reason to celebrate - both sides said that the groundwork had been laid:
Nadia Caliz, President - BNTU
"Today, we're elated. We're happy that we're finally signing off on this collective bargaining that started in 2008."
Sharon Fraser, President - APSSM
"Imagine, 2008. That is when this process started, PM. 2008."
And today - 16 years later they finally signed that agreement - a rare opportunity for the Prime Minister to sit in p[eace with Unions whose salaries he cut three years ago.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I believe it was your love of the nation and your values, which in 2021 drove you to convince your members to make that painful decision, to agree to the salary cuts. And I hope you believe that it is our values that is at a part of our promise to conclude this agreement."
It's a remarkable reversal of perception for the Briceno administration - once the union killer - now the good faith negotiator - spearheaded by government's savvy point man on the negotiation:
Sharon Fraser, President - APSSM
"Today, we have finally reached the point where we can say with pride after all the fights right Deputy PM, but respectfully fighting that we have come now to this point that we are now signing off on our long standing collective bargaining agreement."
"I can think about moments when in fact, around the table, one particular minister, none of these ones, would have said to us, I don't care what you all say, you all are not getting nothing."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I must confess, there were times I was asking DPM, what are you all talking about six hours, I mean, because six hours is a lot of time to sit around a table."
Jules Vasquez
"You were the point person on the joint unions team statement. I had heard it said within certain government circles, Cordel too soft. You know you'd like to talk to the people too much etc. Explain to me how soft power brought us to this point."
Cordel Hyde, Government's negotiator
"Well, you have to talk. The Africans you talk to, you agree? I subscribe to that. And so often times you would have very long meetings 6 hours, 8 hours. So we talk, we talk through things. That's the only way you're going to solve problems. You can't solve problems by not talking, by not engage, by not trying to understand each other, and understanding that you won't get everything you want. You'll get some, but you won't get everything you want. But I think that we always operated in an atmosphere of respect and cordiality and and it got testy many times."
Sharon Fraser, President - APSSM
"At one I mi feel that the minister of foreign affairs would have jumped in my chest, but we're okay."
Okay because they got the government to agree to one of the most difficult and costly elements int he agreement - proposal 22:
Nadia Caliz, President - BNTU
"And I know my brothers and sisters, my sister unions, that the deliberation took this long because the BNTU was relentless. We're not going to sign until proposal 22 is agreed to."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"We are finally able to accommodate one of the more costly demands referred to as proposal 22 madam vice president that you brought up. This proposal ensures that government pays the full 100% of salaries and service benefits of all grant-aided secondary and tertiary level educational institutions in Belize."
"This undertaking will increase the wage bill by $68 million over five years. But we have all agreed that it is a just and equitable move."
And this agreement - so long delayed - will expire in a few months:
Nadia Caliz, President - BNTU
"Today, we're elated. We're happy that we're finally signing off on this collective bargaining that started in 2008. There is so much more that needs to be done. And immediately after signing today, the BNTU will be preparing its next collective bargaining agreement."
Sharon Fraser, President - APSSM
"Prime Minister, after today, the journey starts. A new journey starts."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"So we signed this agreement, fully aware that shortly we will commence negotiations for another new agreement. And I certainly hope it will not take what, 13 plus what, 16, 17 years?"
"We do not expect that it's going to be a difficult one because the tough decisions have already been taken. We've already solved most of the issues. And so we believe that we should be able to have another collective bargain agreement I think within a short time especially if there is goodwill from both sides."
But new discussions will have to cover pension reform:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"We know that the wage bill and the pension bill are not sustainable as currently structured, but we also know that the solution to this unsustainable situation cannot come from the outside, it must be a solution that we derive together."
