At the NTUCB’s 59th anniversary on Saturday, UBFSU President Julianne Pasos told reporters that staff morale is low, but their push for the promised funding continues.
“Our faculty and staff are demoralised at this point. The 9% is ten years coming. In 2015, when we got our 5%, I just got an email that reminded me that at that point we were negotiating for 14%, and we only got five, and we did not get the additional 9%. So this is long in the making. So our faculty and staff are really going to do whatever it takes to get it. I just have to say, Be prepared for whatever,” Pasos said.
Pasos did not rule out the possibility that the union’s next steps could lead to class disruptions.
She said that the union has been requesting a meeting with Oscar Requena, the Minister of Education, and Prime Minister John Briceño but added that it has been delayed but is expected to take place following Tuesday’s Cabinet session.
In the meantime, UBFSU intends to attend the upcoming Cabinet meeting, where the subvention issue is expected to be tabled. “I am going to invite the students to come and join us. Because the subvention does not only impact the faculty and staff but it also impacts the students and the public, it affects all of us. What affects the national university affects the entire country of Belize,” Pasos added.