During her live video statement on Saturday, BNTU President Nadia Caliz issued a direct warning to the Ministry of Education: no salary adjusment, no back-to-school.
She said, “We ain’t doing anything until you recognize our contribution and you treat us with the respect that we have. And if we still cannot achieve that, we ain’t opening any classrooms.”
“Come August, 5,000 workshops? We’re not going there. We ain’t painting no classroom. We ain’t buying any materials… we ain’t opening any classrooms,” she added.
Caliz also told the government that is “propaganda campaign” is backfiring.
“You are hemorrhaging,” she said to persons behind anti-JUNT ads opposing the union’s demands. “Look at your comments. The people of this country, they’re not fools. They’re awakened. They understand what is going on.”
Caliz condemned the portrayal of unions as “greedy” for seeking state assistance, despite those funds being legally allocated. “It’s taxpayer’s money. It does not belong to any one of them individually,” she stated.
