The Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) has delayed a scheduled vote on its next industrial action following a new proposal from the Government of Belize (GOB), which includes a partial salary increase and other offers. The decision to postpone the vote comes as the union continues to deliberate on its next steps in response to GOB’s letter issued Wednesday.
The proposal follows a May 13 meeting between the Joint Union Negotiating Team (JUNT) and government officials. At that meeting, the unions outlined several key demands, including the full reinstatement of an 8.5% salary adjustment and the unfreezing of two increments that had been halted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response, the government has offered a 3% salary increase starting in October 2025, and the unfreezing of one of the two frozen increments at the beginning of the 2026–2027 fiscal year, which starts on April 1, 2026.
Speaking to reporters today, Minister of the Public Service Henry Charles Usher addressed concerns about the potential for a nationwide teachers’ strike. “I think they did issue a notice last week Wednesday. A week has passed. Now I believe that was all part of their plan, they had said that they would have certain steps that they would take. They would have the sit down, they would be going to level two, level three. But we hope that we don’t get to level three,” Usher said.
“We hope that with these proposals… the membership of the PSU, the membership of the BNTU and all of the broader teachers, public officers… can see that these are reasonable proposals. These are proposals that are sustainable,” he added. “As I always say, it’s always better to talk to each other than at each other.”
When asked whether the government’s offer of 3% and a deferred increment formed the core of the proposal, Usher clarified, “So you’re speaking to only one item on the seventh point one of seven.”
Usher explained, “It’s a three percent salary adjustment starting in October, and then in April or the start of the next fiscal year, the unfreezing of one of the increments that were frozen during the COVID time.” He confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the remaining 5.5% of the requested adjustment and the second frozen increment.