The Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) announced a national demonstration in Belmopan for this Friday, following overwhelming support for industrial action by its membership. More than 2,500 teachers voted in favour during a meeting of nearly 3,000 union members held last week.
The demonstration is the first step in a three-phase strategy that includes a potential two-day national shutdown and could end up in a full strike. The union is demanding a salary adjustment and a raise in the minimum wage from $5 to $6 per hour, citing recent pay increases granted to high-level government officials, including the Cabinet Secretary and the CEOs.
“When the CEOs got their 20% and we’ve been there waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting… it’s like, we’re not important. So we want the government to understand we matter. We have value. Please consider us,” the BNTU national president Nadia Caliz told News 5.
Caliz detailed the union’s demands, including an 8.5% minimum salary adjustment. The union is also asking the government to officially confirm in writing a past agreement so that members “so that people can receive what is rightfully theirs.”
Caliz suggested that the government focus on paying the union members who are actively contributing and supporting the negotiations to alleviate the financial strain it would cause to pay all public officers and teachers.