May 10, 2021
Unions Reject Land Credit and Mortgage Proposals; Talks to Continue Thursday
Today marks the eleventh day that the Belize National Teachers Union has been on strike, matching the record set in 2016. The Joint Unions Negotiating Team and government representatives are scheduled to meet on Thursday and reports are that a decision on strike actions will not be taken until Friday. So where do the discussions stand currently? And, how possible is it that strike actions will conclude by weekend? Union leaders were on Open Your Eyes Morning Show today. News Five’s Paul Lopez files the following report.
Paul Lopez
May 7, 2021
Government Makes New Proposals; Unions Cautiously Optimistic
The Joint Unions Negotiating Team may now be seeing some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel in their fight for good governance. News Five has confirmed that during Thursday’s negotiation meeting, G.O.B.’s team presented three drafts of good governance legislation. Although government had initially indicated that it would take at least three months to prepare and present these drafts, it appears the process has been expedited. Union leaders are now taking back to their membership a draft of whistleblowers’ legislation, a draft of asset recovery legislation, and a draft campaign financing legislation. There is also a proposed promissory note with possible interest to make up for the proposed salary cuts. Union leaders are being optimistically cautious moving forward. News Five’s Paul Lopez joined the unions through the streets of Belize City today. He filed the following report
May 4, 2021
P.S.U. Kicks of Strike with Service and March through Belize City
If you went to any government offices today and wondered where the staff was, well they were very likely on the streets of Belize City. News Five followed the Public Service Union members from their opening church service to their march on Belize City.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Today marks the first day of strike action for the Public Service Union of Belize. The day began with a church service at the King’s Park Nazarene church. After service, the P.S.U., Belize National Teachers Union, the Nurses Association of Belize, and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers went on a march through the streets of Belize City. President of the PSU, Gerald Henry told News Five that he was thrilled with the turnout of PSU members, which he estimated to be hundreds, from communities across the country.
May 3, 2021
Teachers & P.S.U. Picket P.M. Office
Today marks the second week of industrial action by the Belize National Teachers Union and the final day before the Public Service Union begins a strike of its own. As we have been reporting, members of the joint unions are taking industrial action against government’s ten percent salary cut for public officers and three-year increment freeze. The unions are also calling on the government to implement more good governance legislation. At midday today, members of the P.S.U. and B.N.T.U. held a solidarity march in the City of Belmopan. News Five’s Paul Lopez was there.
May, 2021
It is official – Buckingham Palace has approved the appointment of Froyla Tzalam as the next Governor General of Belize. Over the weekend, News Five spoke with Tzalam who was [.]