UBFSU President: Faculty Ready to Take Action

President of the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU), Juliane Pasos, says that after years of waiting, UB’s faculty and staff are prepared to do whatever it takes to secure the long-promised salary adjustment.

Pasos explained that the current nine percent salary increase has been overdue for a decade. “In 2015, when we got our five percent, we were actually negotiating for 14 percent. We only received five, and the additional nine percent never came,” she said. “This has been long in the making, and our faculty and staff are demoralised. They want what is owed to them, and they will fight for it.”

Pasos did not rule out the possibility of industrial action, stating that staff are prepared for “whatever it takes,” which could even mean a shutdown of classes if necessary.

The UBFSU president also extended an invitation to students and the wider public to join the union during an upcoming Cabinet meeting. “It doesn’t only impact faculty and staff; it impacts students and the country as a whole. What affects our national university affects the entire country of Belize,” she said.

Pasos noted that the union continues to receive strong support from other unions, including the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB). “There is so much solidarity. The NTUCB and other unions have done so much, pushing for the OSH bill, being part of the tripartite body, but there is still more to do. We must keep working for good governance, democracy, respect for unions, and systematic change,” she said.

She said that the union has requested meetings with the Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance to resolve the matter. Those meetings are expected to take place after Cabinet meets next week.

UBFSU members joined the NTUCB in its rally today in Belize City.