UB Union Marches to PM’s Office Demanding $10M Subvention

Just weeks after the government wrapped up tough negotiations with the teachers’ and public service unions, another union is stepping into the spotlight and they’re not coming quietly. This time, it’s the UB Faculty and Staff Union demanding action. Their call is for a ten-million-dollar subvention which they say has been overdue for nearly a decade. And this morning, they made their voices heard, marching right up to the prime minister’s office to send a clear message that they are done waiting. News Five’s Britney Gordon was on the ground in Belmopan and brings us the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The call is growing louder for the Briceño administration to make good on a promise to the University of Belize. At the heart of it? A ten-million-dollar subvention that the UB Faculty and Staff Union says is long overdue. When the university was first established back in 2000, it received the full ten million from the government. But that figure was slashed to eight-point-five million under the previous UDP administration, a move the now-ruling People’s United Party strongly criticized at the time. Fast forward to today, and despite pledges to restore and even increase the funding, the union says the government still hasn’t delivered.

 

Julianne Pasos, President, UB Staff & Faculty Union

“Last year we called year we called out the government on their promise and they put a true press release saying that it was due to COVID. They could not live up to that. But they promise that in this budget, in the budget for this fiscal year, they would increase it and the budget was red and there is no promise for increase.”

 

Staff at the University of Belize say morale is at an all-time low as the institution grapples with dwindling resources and struggles to offer competitive salaries to its educators. The UB Faculty and Staff Union is calling on the government to restore its financial support to at least ten million dollars, arguing that the boost is essential to keep the university functioning effectively. However, not everyone agrees. ander Francis Fonseca says the government is already providing significant funding and suggests the university needs to manage its current budget more efficiently.

 

Francis Fonseca, Former Minister of Education

“They have obviously have every right to protest it, the UB Union. What I can say for the record is that this government, this Ministry of Education, has provided unprecedented support to UB. In addition to the subvention that they get, we provide over five million dollars a year in assistance to university, which is used to pay salaries, which is used to provide support to students. Unprecedented support. More money is going to UB under this government than ever before.”

 

It’s a growing divide at the University of Belize, the government says it’s doing its part, but staff say they’re still being left behind. Former Education Minister Francis Fonseca insists that extra funding is helping to pay teachers. But here’s the catch, university staff say they haven’t seen a real raise in nearly a decade. Now, the President of the Christian Workers Union, Leonora Flowers, is stepping in, throwing her support behind the university’s faculty and staff.

 

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union

“For ten years.  Imagine living on the same salary for ten years. You can’t pay your bills properly. You can’t, you’re barely surviving. You’re barely making ends meet, and you’ve been promised this increase. And it has not come about, as I said ‘todos ganamos’, but we really, who’s winning, the people of the UB aren’t winning. The citizens of Belize aren’t winning.”

 

The union’s peaceful demonstration occurred just outside the Sir Edney Cain Building in Belmopan, where government officials were arriving for a scheduled cabinet meeting. It turns out the timing was no accident. The University of Belize staff made sure their voices were heard, loud and clear. Their message was a protest and a strategic move. And it worked. Minister of Transport Dr. Louis Zabaneh has confirmed that the issue will be brought to the Cabinet table.

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“Well  have to discuss it at cabinet, right? That’s the idea for everybody to be here to let cabinet hear the voice of the people and especially for hardworking faculty at UB. So we’ll see how it goes.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So is that on the table for today?”

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“I believe so. I think that was mentioned that we would be discussing it, but we’re here to talk about all the important issues that the country faces, and of course we hear our wonderful faculty from UB.”

 

According to UBFSU President, Julianne Pasos. The increased funds would not only benefit the teachers’ pay, but also the university’s infrastructure and classroom resources.

 

Julianne Pasos

“I believe that the faculty and staff will push for it until they get it. So in terms of classes, we hope that, and we call on our students to be understanding the increase in subvention is for all of us because if we can improve the university, we can improve it for our students, for our faculty, and our staff. And in terms of moving the class, it might be a little sacrifice that we all have to do.”

 

The fight isn’t over yet, not by a long shot. While there’s still no guarantee that the University of Belize will get the increased government subvention it’s asking for, the union isn’t backing down. Union leader Julianne Pasos says if the government doesn’t follow through on its promise, they’re ready to take the next step and that means turning up the pressure on the university’s administration and board of trustees. Britney Gordon for News Five.