President of the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), Nadia Caliz, has issued an update to union members on the way forward.
In a video message to members, Caliz acknowledged that a previously announced plan to hold a membership vote on Monday had been postponed due to a surge of questions and concerns.
“I know that in my last meeting, I said to you that we will be meeting with membership on Monday and you’ll be voting on the different options. Given the number of questions the council and myself have received, we realize that it’s very, very important for us to go back to the drawing board.”
According to Caliz, the BNTU Council will reconvene Tuesday night to review and clarify all available options. “They’ll be educated on how to properly guide you,” she noted.
Branch-level online meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, with voting on the proposals set for Thursday via the BNTU’s official platform. Caliz urged members to ensure they are registered in the union’s new database in order to participate in the vote.
Last week, the BNTU officially notified the Briceño Administration of its intention to strike within 21 days. BNTU President Nadia Caliz sent a formal letter to Education Minister Oscar Requena and other education officials, expressing disappointment over the government’s refusal to consider a salary adjustment. The union stated its members were struggling with the high cost of living and demanded that negotiations resume to find solutions to the ongoing economic crisis.