Tonight the joint unions may be celebrating a rare victory in creating another effective public disruption - and escalating pressure on the government to give them that 8.5% raise.
Two weeks ago it was the Stann Creek branch of the BNTU blocking all traffic in and out of Dangriga.
And today, it was the PSU - which went much higher on the tree to snag a choice fruit: for 17 minutes, they disrupted the flow of traffic into the International Airport. Jules Vasquez was there:
Before travelers got to the airport today they could sense the heavy police presence - from the roundabout half mile away to the arrivals gate - the police were strong and numerous. They even had the tow truck ready.
But all that presence couldn't stop this from happening - Dean Flowers and his union leadership were barred entry from the airport -and that's when things started to turn:
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"Young man I need to park, I need to pick up my people. So where do you want me to park? here."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, you're being barred entry from the airport."
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"Yes, I, something is wrong with this government man, something is wrong with this government. How comes as a citizen I can't come pick up my people who are coming in?"
Jules Vasquez
"Because they have been informed that you plan to come here to create a disruption."
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"Disruption? I don't even know what is a disruption."
Reporter
"So does the union plan to protest here today?"
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"The union does not plan to do anything here today."
Jules Vasquez
"But you have protesters in the parking lot Dean."
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"Me?"
Jules Vasquez
"I see they have on yellow shirt, they have the signs."
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"I was requested to do some office visit at the PGIA. I am carrying out my legal responsibility as president of this union."
Jules Vasquez
"You feel that you're being barred entry from a public space?"
Glenfield Dennison, Labour Senator
"Of course and this this gate doesn't mean.... this is public access. People are allowed to go in and out here to do what the airport is here."
Jules Vasquez
"But it's also an airport and they have to meet security standards. You can't protest at an airport."
Glenfield Dennison, Labour Senator
"We are not protesting; we are being restricted from driving."
Jules Vasquez
"You have a protest sign senator."
Glenfield Dennison, Labour Senator
"I am walking. I could walk any part of this country with these signs."
Meanwhile reinforcements had already assembled in the parking lot. - and had their signs ready:
Anissa Gonzalez, First Vice President - PSU
"Now they start the harass the trade unionist. It's important for Belize to recognize that we don't have freedom of speech anymore, we don't have freedom of expression, we don't have freedom of congregating. It's important for you to recognize that now you're starting to harass the trade unionists. Sooner or later they might start harass Jules."
"So what do we do now? We have to stand up for all the things that are going on in our country and this is one way. We might not be many, but numbers don't count."
But they had the numbers to do what we hadn't seen before - to form a blockade at the entrance to the airport - as they slid into position at the entrance.
And within a minute there they were - fully blocking the entrance to the airport - only about 40 of them but effectively deployed.
This is the frontline visibility they wanted
And they used this as excuse - that the airport security had clamped two union vehicles:
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"They stop me and they lock my vehicle. I don't know on whose instructions.
"You are the officer in charge, I need my vehicle my Reymundo."
"I would appear that the concession company more powerful that the police department. That is how it appears, because how can Mr. Reymundo not command these officers to do their darn job."
And that is when tourists had to started walking in - one by one
And then by the bus-load - a minor inconvenience but a major way for this union to send its message with maximum effect - tainting the sacred tourism product:
Gilbert Canton Jr., Traveler
"It's disruptive, but I understand the cause, so hopefully there can be a peaceful resolution to this one."
But the police got the airport to agree to remove the clamps-which didn't stop Flowers who milked a few more minutes out of this rare moment of an effective national disruption:
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"Yes, I've been informed that the vehicles, because I notice they locked how many vehicles?"
"Three. From Jules vehicle got locked. Jules you are part of the protest."
"It is important that the government understand that the PGIA will be our new stomping grounds. We will return here. Da right here all the excitement will happen until justice is served and public officers are given what they are due."
After 15 minutes, Flowers's pickup was unclipped and free to move off.
Shortly after, the union rerated form its position which it had held for 17 minutes - causing a noted disruption for travelers and perhaps an embarrassment for government.
They went to sing the anthem closer to the arrivals gate - and got the attention of this visitor:
Visitor
"Good for them. We see them all the time, so you know, they're using their voice, so good for them."
Reporter
"So, you don't feel like it's a disruption?"
Visitor
"No."
But they say this isn't the end for the union at the airport:
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"Tomorrow we return, we have our visit with the customs, immigration and BAHA officers and it is up to them to decide how they will treat with us."
