Talks Resume Between Government and Union Negotiators

The Government of Belize and the Joint Union Negotiation Team are headed back to the negotiation table. A meeting is scheduled for Monday between both parties. Representative for the BNTU on the negotiating team, Nadia Caliz, told News Five on Thursday that JUNT requested the meeting to clearly define its relationship with the government. Caliz contends that while the government is implementing certain initiatives, JUNT members have been left out of the process.

 

Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teachers Union

“We are meeting on Monday but what we need to bring clarity to is that we don’t have a time and a venue so we are waiting on that. But, we need to address some of the changes we see government making, because certain conversations started at the JUNT table. And because of confidentiality I don’t want to go into detail. And we see them carrying on and implementing stuff and not including us. So, before we go to the left, we said let us go to the table. But if government continues in this trend, then we will need to respond. If we are partners then let us act like we are partners. Don’t say we are partners and we are not treated like partners. That is why JUNT requested that meeting.”

 

Teachers Back GOB’s Free Education Rollout, With Conditions

 

The Belize National Teachers’ Union backs the government’s rollout of free education in public high schools, but with a warning. Union President Nadia Caliz says teachers’ welfare must not be sidelined in the process. She’s urging the Briceño administration to balance free education with fair support for educators.

 

Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teachers Union

“BNTU is a part of Education International and we support GO Public. Go Public talks about government funding public high schools and ensuring that all the resources are there.  So with an initiative like that BNTU supports that. More students coming to school, the BNTU supports that. They are citizens of Belize, the deserve an education. We support that. The only thing we don’t want them to say, is because they are dong this they cannot adjust the challenges educators are facing. We have to work hand in hand and based on what happened yesterday at the teacher conference and the presentation the minister of education gave, the teachers are of the opinion that we will not be having any issues. It was a beautiful presentation. Through that presentation we have seen where the ministry in theory is putting in place certain things to address the challenges. Our job now is to make sure it becomes a reality.”

 

Teachers’ Talks Shift Toward Contributory Pensions

 

And one of the topics that has been high on the priority list during these negotiations is pension reform. BNTU President Nadia Caliz confirmed with News Five negotiations are moving in the direction of a contributory pension scheme. She says that while there are no fundamental objections to this course of action, teachers and public officers want to ensure that they receive value for their contributions.

 

Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teachers Union

“I listened to what the prime minister said as it pertains to that. And I also sit on that committee. For confidentiality purposes there is certain things I cant say, but one thing I can say to you is that yes we are moving in the direction of contributory pension. I have said that to my members and I will speak about that today, because if you want to see an improvement of your take home when you retire then you have to contribute. So all the public sector worker’s union position is that if we are going to contribute then we have to take home more. If we are going to contribute then the pension plan must be better than what it is right now. And, the constitution secures that. It is in the constitution, whatever we are giving, when we reform what we are getting must be better than what exist today. And, we are standing firm behind that. So contribution is not the issue. it is how much we are going to contribute and what we are going to get in return for that contribution.”

 

Negotiators are zeroing in on pension reform, with BNTU President Nadia Caliz saying teachers and public officers are open to contributing, so long as the payoff is a better deal at retirement.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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