Joint Unions Reject Government’s ‘3% Salary Increase’ Proposal

The Joint Unions Negotiating Team (JUNT) has unanimously rejected the government’s proposal for a ‘3% salary increase’ for public sector workers, according to a letter sent to Prime Minister John Briceño on May 31.

While JUNT agreed to some government proposals, including a 60-day maximum response period for counterproposals during negotiations, they took a firm stance against what they consider inadequate wage increases.

The unions welcomed Cabinet’s decision to honor transfer grants and settle outstanding payments to transferred public officers under the 2021-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement. JUNT has requested an official circular reflecting the revised transfer grant rates.

However, the major point of contention centers on wages and the government’s commitment to raise the national minimum wage to $6.00. JUNT said that discussions about the national minimum wage should not delay action to ensure public officers earn dignified living wages.

“Public service embodies the highest form of civic dedication, and charity begins at home,” the union stated in their letter. They argued that as Belize’s largest employer and standard-setter for labor practices, the government has a duty to ensure all employees earn wages that consistently exceed the national minimum wage.

The rejection of the proposed 3% salary increase, scheduled to take effect October 1, 2025, sets the stage for continued negotiations between the government and public sector unions. The unions are pushing for wage rates that provide “dignified livelihoods for those who serve Belize.”