After leaders of the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU), Public Service Union (PSU), Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM) and National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) left the Prime Minister’s office on Friday evening, February 1st, they had the wind in their backs. They had just organized a massive demonstration in which thousands turned out and they got the Government to move from a position of no salary increase to that of salary adjustments based on revenue outturn. Their momentum was unstoppable – that is until they met with a disinterested membership.
The unions held their first meeting with membership in Belize City on Wednesday, February 6th, at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall to get an endorsement to move forward with the proposal that Government placed on the table. Government proposed as much as the 10% increase being requested annually from 2014 to 2016 depending on growth in revenue. Based on Government projections, the unions are confident that revenue will increase at a rate that will allow for acceptable salary adjustments starting in July of 2014. According to the unions, the “overwhelming majority” of executive members voted in favour of the proposal on Saturday, February 2nd, and it is now up for membership to present its views.
The meeting in Belize City was poorly attended. There were not more than 100 people inside the Parish Hall. Many expressed disappointment at their colleagues’ absence; however, those in attendance held a constructive discussion on the proposal on the table. The members were not thrilled at the uncertainty of the proposal. One member said, “There are too many ifs.” George Frazer responded by saying, “We have to also be real about what is going on with the economy and how outside influences can affect us.” Dylan Reneau, President of NTUCB, added that there is always a level of uncertainty while dealing with the economy because “events such as storms” do not factor into projections. Of the fact that there is no guarantee revenue performance will allow for the 10% increase, Frazer said, “We might not get everything we ask for. No way in the world you get everything you ask for but we will get as much as we can.”
While there wasn’t enthusiastic endorsement of the proposal by membership, most seem to be satisfied with the idea that they are receiving two things they believe was absent before the demonstration; respect and salary adjustments. Majority of the presenters requested that their leaders enter into the negotiating room and demand a “bottom figure”; a rate of increase that the Government will not go below. The leaders promised to take their members’ positions into the meetings that will be held with Government representatives.
