BNTU AND PUBLIC SERVICE UNION CONCERNED ABOUT SALARY INCREASES

January 07, 2008

The Belize National Teachers Union and Public Service Union issued a release in which the Unions say they view with much concern, Government’s press release dealing with salary increases. The release says the unions are concerned at the unilateral decisions by Cabinet to approve salary increases to teachers, nurses, policemen and public officers and to make some changes in benefits, anomalies and conditions of employment in some sectors of the public service without first meeting and discussing the issue with the unions. The Unions say this amounts to among other things an act of bad faith. The release goes on to say on January 30^th , 2006 both union presidents had written to the Prime Minister requesting to meet to discuss and work out an agreement to compensate public officers, teachers, nurses, BDF, policemen and others affected by the one year increment freeze imposed by the Government. The unions say they wrote the Prime Minister again asking to meet on the issues. This meeting never materialized. The Unions also say they question Government’s sincerity and motives for inviting Commonwealth monitors to come to observe the upcoming general elections when we are not in a politically, unstable crisis period or without the courtesy of consulting with or discussing such a need with other political parties and other social partners. The Unions say historically such considerations and request would normally come from opposition parties and civil society organizations where there are signs of possible irregularities and fraud in the election process.

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