And, while the tone on that issue is - as we said - more reasoned - the Union Exec is speaking in moderate tones because it knows its brother unions have its back.
Today, a release from the Joint Union Negotiations Team comprising the Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM), the Public Service Union (PSU) and the Belize National Teachers' Union (BNTU) sent a powerful joint release, saying, quote "At the last meeting held with the Government side on September 4th, 2018, it was agreed on both sides, that works must earnestly commence to bring the 10 year negotiations to a close by the end of the current calendar year.
The JUNT finds it quite concerning and rather disheartening that Minister Faber has gone on record, at the Prime Minister's Press Conference held yesterday, to state that the issue of the 70/30 agreement WILL NOT be addressed in these negotiations as it is "no longer a LIVE issue." It would seem then that our entire team, comprised of the 9 members present that day, walked away with a very different understanding than that held by the lead Minister."
The union explained the importance of this release today:
Hon. Elena Smith- President, BNTU
"And so, this is just for the minister, in case he thinks BNTU is all alone; we are not alone. We will let you all know that if there is a need we are going to be discussing with our other fellow unions to see how it is that if there is a need for any support that we can get support from them. And if it is that we need to go international for support on this matter we will do so because we are not going to let it. We remain strong, we remain committed to our members and we will fight to the bitter end to ensure that our members get what is rightfully theirs. Solidarity!"
Everyone
"Forever!"
We'll wait for a response from the Ministry tomorrow.
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