6 weeks ago, we took you to Belmopan for the protest from the Belize National Teachers Union. Over 1300 teachers, their fellow unions, and allied members of civil society took to the streets of the capital to demonstrate against the Ministry of Education.
The teachers were voicing their discontent about the way the Government was handling their concerns such as teacher hardship allowances, time off to collect their salaries and pay their bills. They forced the Ministry to come back to the table on their terms, but, for some, at a dear cost. Â
The Union has now confirmed that some of the teachers’ pay will be docked by school managements, and it’s going to happen just in time for the Christmas holiday.
Today, a press release from the Union was sent out, in which the union called the school managers who will cut the teachers salaries “the Grinch that Stole Christmasâ€.
Their press release says, quote, “…in true Grinch-like manner, some managers have made the decision to dock the salaries of the teachers just weeks before the Christmas holidays are to begin. Although the education rules make provisions for managers to make that decision, it is one that can only be classified as downright ‘mean-spirited’ and an attempt at union busting,†end quote.
The union reminds managers that these school cannot function without the hard work, dedication, extra time and effort effort from those teachers that they are penalizing.
They note that a number of teachers pledge between $20 and $30 from their monthly salaries to these school managers to aid in the operational costs. The union says, quote, “Any teacher who decides to discontinue such contribution to their management has the full support of the BNTU.â€Â End quote.Â
The BNTU press release ends by committing to pursuing all avenues, including legal action, on behalf of those teachers who are getting their pay cut.
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