Classroom concerns lead tonight’s headlines; after weeks of anticipation and negotiation, the Belize National Teachers Union has made its move. They’ve officially joined two of their sister unions in saying yes to the government’s latest salary adjustment proposal. Now, here’s where it gets interesting: while seventy-five percent of B.N.T.U. members voted in favor of the deal, which includes an eight-point-five percent salary bump over the next two years, this wasn’t just about pay. The union also took a second vote, and nearly eighty-seven percent of teachers said they’re not done fighting. They’re still ready to take industrial action, not for salaries this time, but for bigger, systemic changes like income tax reform and anti-corruption measures. So, what does this mean for the months ahead? And how is the public reacting? Well, it’s a mixed bag—some are applauding the union’s persistence, while others worry about the impact of continued unrest. B.N.T.U. President Nadia Caliz had this to say about the road ahead.
Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teachers Union
“The decision of the four point five and the four is up to the members of the union. If they accept that, you don’t hate them for it or go against them for that if they accept that, because there are other issues on hand that we must address through the CBA that we need to begin like yesterday to deal with. For me, my teachers are talking about class size. Those allowances they’re getting is nothing. We are talking about tax reform, all of those things. They are very important. So we need to get to the table to address those things. So I don’t want the public to think that when my membership decides that this is what they want that they are selling out, nobody the sell out. There are too many issues to address and we have to address them.”