Fonseca Warns BNTU of Possible Loss of Credibility

After several rounds of negotiations, the BNTU has taken to the streets in protest, this time, organizing traffic blockades across the country. The demonstrations, aimed at pressuring the government for an eight-and-a-half percent salary increase, were quickly met with police intervention, for obstruction of traffic. Former Minister of Education and government negotiator Francis Fonseca expressed disappointment in the union’s actions. He says the government has already agreed to six out of seven proposals and is willing to meet the salary increase, but not all at once. Fonseca warns that continued protests after what he calls “good faith negotiations” could damage the union’s credibility with future administrations.

 

Francis Fonseca, Former Minister of Education 

“I’m really disappointed that in my view the BNTU has really, I think, broken faith with those good faith discussions that we’ve been having broken, I think the trust of those discussions and negotiations. And I think, when they do that, they risk losing the support of reasonable people, the public. As well as I think losing credibility with this government and with future governments. We have always treated them with dignity, with respect. We have always, I can tell you, as the Minister of Education for the last four and a half years, we have always worked with the BNTU to resolve any concerns they have, any issues that they raise. We have worked with them to try to address those concerns and issues in our respectful, meaningful way. So I think the risk there is that they will lose credibility. The governments will ask this government and future governments. What is the purpose of working in good faith? What is the purpose of treating you with respect and working with you and trying to resolve issues? If at the end of the day you still, your position is, we will strike, we will protest, we will disrupt. So I really hope that good faith will prevail and that we can resolve these issues where they should be resolved, around the negotiating table. We have an agreed upon established structure and mechanism in place to resolve these issues, and we can do so if we are acting in good faith together.”