Year: 2025

A wave of green swept through the country today, as members of local B.N.T.U branches took to the streets in a powerful show of unity and purpose. It’s all part of a coordinated picketing action plan aimed at raising awareness and rallying community support for their cause. The day began early, with members wearing green shirts and holding up bold posters as they lined major highways and roads near schools. The message was clear and visible to all commuters this morning: “We matter.” By lunchtime, the action moved to the heart of communities, drawing the attention of parents, business owners, and passersby. The atmosphere was peaceful but passionate, as members engaged with the public and shared their messages. But the action didn’t stop there. Throughout the day, members visited local businesses and institutions, distributing flyers and speaking directly with shopkeepers and community leaders. The goal? To build solidarity and spread awareness far and wide. Photos were snapped, stories were shared, and social media lit up with the hashtag #WeMatter, as members flooded platforms with images and updates from the field. This grassroots campaign is more than just a protest—it’s a movement. And today, it made its presence known.

 

Coral Lord, B.N.T.U. President, Belize District

“We are out here today educating and getting support from the general public for our cause. As we all know, we have been agitating for a salary adjustment. We are requesting an 8.5% salary adjustment and the return of our two frozen increments. So today we are just out here to highlight and to make it known that we are going the full length and we are in phase two of our industrial action where we are asking the public for support on this cause because we all know that when the spending power of teachers increase, the spending power of all the other persons in our society increases as well. We support local businesses, we support mom and pops stores and all the business community. The PM was not being honest in his statement. We all know the politricking that they do. When we are out here and they are not in government, they come out and support us fully. But when they are the ones in the government seat, they forget all the promises they made and the support they lent to the teachers. The PM is saying that they are giving us over fourteen percent, but that’s not true. We can all go back and fact-check him. The document that he sent to us saying exactly what the offer was specifically states that he’s willing to give us a three percent salary adjustment come first of October and the return of one frozen increment at the start of the financial year 2026/2027.”

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union, or KHMHAWU, has announced it will begin industrial action tomorrow afternoon, citing a prolonged deadlock in pension negotiations with the Government of Belize. The union says it’s had enough. After months of stalled talks, KHMHAWU is launching what it calls a “phased and lawful” campaign to demand fairness and long-term security for its members. The action begins with peaceful workplace demonstrations, including staff wearing “Gimme Mi Pension” T-shirts as a show of unity. But this is just the beginning. The union has outlined a tiered plan that could escalate to a full strike if no progress is made. That includes a “go-slow” approach at work, increased media engagement, and a potential 21-day strike notice. In response, the Labor Department has reminded the union that under the Settlement of Disputes and Essential Services Act, any industrial action must first be reported to the Minister of Labor. Today, we spoke with Labor Commissioner Rissela Dominguez-Patt, who emphasized the importance of following the legal dispute resolution process.

 

Rissela Dominquez-Patt, Labour Commissioner

“One of the things they have to do before any trade dispute or strike is that they need to report the matter to the minister. Once they report this matter to the minister then in twenty-one days the minister would decide if it will take a mediation or based on the circumstances of the dispute whether the matter would be taken to the tribunal and thereafter whatever decision the tribunal makes, if the decision is taken to the tribunal then that decision is final. Any institution that falls under this act cannot just get up and say we are going to strike. The primary objective or goal of this legislation is to ensure that they are uninterrupted, they do not interrupt their services, because they provide critical service to the public. Any interruption can cause serious damage to the public. That is why these organizations are under this legislation.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Have you all received any letter or notice as is required by law?”

 

Rissela Dominquez-Patt

“That is what we are telling the union, we work very closely with employers and workers. We communicate with KHMHWA the union and KHMH. Earlier this month we brought them together for a different situation. We are constantly in communication with them. In terms of this grievance we have not received anything in writing or anything at all form any of the parties.”

Labor Commissioner Rissela Dominguez-Patt is reminding unions that any action that disrupts work, whether it’s walking off the job or slowing down services, counts as a strike under Belizean law. And that means there are rules to follow. In the past, some KHMH Workers Union members claimed they were simply on break or using a day off during protests. But the law is clear: if the action causes work to stop or services to be interrupted, it’s considered a strike. And there are consequences. Violating the rules under the Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act could lead to fines or even jail time. The law also outlines a formal process for resolving disputes, which includes notifying the Minister of Labor before any industrial action begins.

 

Rissela Dominquez-Patt, Labour Commissioner

“Under section fifteen which is one of the section we empathized the employer or the worker, in this case the union, they shall, and we have to respect that, they shall not take part in any strike in connection with any dispute. If there is a dispute they shall not take part in any strike. The legislation provides a definition of a strike. It says the cessation of work by a body employed. What do we understand by cessation of work. It does not say full cessation or part cessation. In terms of cessation, we mean any stop of work. So any think that has to do will stop of work whether part or complete that is cessation. So if you are going to take any action you need to understand how this will affect the work you do. Will that be considered a cessation of work, whether part fully.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What could be the possible ramifications as outlined in the law in the event they decide to take any one of these actions outside of presenting a notice?”

 

Rissela Dominquez-Patt

“If they fail to present a notice it means they cannot strike and if they proceed to strike it means that anything in the legislation is an offense and that offense is punishable under summary conviction. So there is a fine and there is imprisonment. So if we decide to enforcement the legislation, they are breaking the law in small terms, there will be a fine and possible imprisonment. Labour Commissioner Rissela Dominquez emphasized that every citizen is afforded the right to freedom of speech under the constitution. So, they can engage certain actions as long as it does not stop the essential service they provide.”