The Belize National Teachers Union and the Public Service Union have ramped up their industrial actions this week. They sent out a notice over the weekend in which they notified of the various activities that they will be engaging in over the next several days.
The first to be executed was one where vehicles experienced ‘engine and mechanical problems.’ By far the most effective form of protest, on Monday morning vehicles driven by public officers and teachers were parked on major arteries across the country with the hoods up. The participants claimed that their vehicles were experiencing mechanical problems and could not move. They did this at major highways, blocking bridges and roads, impeding the free flow of traffic on the main thoroughfares. Persons attempting to get to work on Monday morning were simply stalled and had to wait out for a couple of hours before the demonstrators decided to move their vehicles.
Apr 20, 2021
P.S.U. Marches on Albert Street at High Noon
The Public Service Union continued its activism today with members picketing various locations across the country, including service stations down south in Stann Creek District. They were joined in some municipalities by the Belize National Teachers Union, with whom they are allied, as part of a multilateral body that has been in discussion with the Government of Belize over a pending salary reduction. The oppressive midday heat did little to deter them from taking to the streets of the Old Capital in protest. News Five’s Isani Cayetano was downtown and caught up with the P.S.U. as they marched in solidarity against government.
Apr 19, 2021
Unions Stage Monday Morning Traffic Blockade
If you were trying to get to work or school this morning, you may have had your commute delayed by the Belize National Teachers Union and Public Service Union highway blockades. The traffic shutdown was part of a week of protest actions leading up to Thursday and Friday’s budget debate inside the National Assembly. At the heart of the issue is the pending ten percent salary cut and three-year increment freeze for teachers and public officers. While no tires were burnt and the protests lasted only minutes, they were well coordinated across the country. News Five’s Paul Lopez moved between the blockades outside Belize City.
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Negotiations between the Government of Belize and the Joint Unions failed, and the Government went ahead on Friday April 9th to read a budget which features a 3-year 10 percent salary cut, along with increment freeze for the same period.
The first to respond was the Public Service Union, which issued a release where it states that it served notice of a Trade Dispute to the Labor Commissioner on Monday April 12. It noted that they will begin industrial action against the Government by implementing a Work-to-rule campaign beginning on Tuesday April 13th.
By Wednesday April 14th other unions began to gear up. An internal memo from the Belize National Teachers Union plots their course of action in the next few days. The memo notes that there will be picketing in front of businesses that owe taxes on Friday April 16th with a message saying, “Pay your taxes”. Then on April 19th there will be a demonstration on the highway (it does not specify which one) and the blocking of that highw