Government Awaits Union Response as Strike Deadline Nears

With just eight days left before the Belize National Teachers’ Union’s 21-day strike notice expires, the government is patiently awaiting a response from the joint unions on its counter proposal.  The Briceño Administration’s offer, submitted last week, fell short of the unions’ requested 8.5% salary increase, but the government has described it as a significant compensation package for public servants and teachers. This morning, Minister of Public Service and Governance Henry Charles Usher spoke on the proposal, which if accepted, would raise the national wage bill by ten million dollars annually. He labelled it as a serious commitment to the public service and underscored that the government hopes to continue working with the JUNT. 

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service: “In reference to the salary adjustment, the government is proposing a 3% adjustment in October 2025 and an additional increment at the start of fiscal year 2026-2027 to make up for the frozen increment in 2021. In addition, the remaining 5.5% and a second frozen increment will be adjusted within a maximum three-year period. Mr. Speaker, each increment represents 2.5 to 3 percent of an adjustment. So the actual figure is not 8.5 percent, but over three years it will be closer to 14.5 percent in this three-year period. Number five, the legal effect to GOB’s assumption of 100% payment of pension and gratuities for teachers and staff at grant-aided schools. This was agreed to commence in September 2024, clearing a major bone of contention for teachers who have been advocating for years. Prior to this, the government was paying 70%, with the school management paying 30%. Because of financial constraints on the part of school management, the 30% was not always being paid, putting teachers and staff at these schools at an unfair disadvantage. Government has stepped up to the plate and assumed the full 100% of these payments. Minister of Foreign Affairs, this has added 10 million more to the budget, is it? 10 million more added to the budget to cover this additional 30% per year. As I have said, Mr. Speaker, the approach has been a respectful one, and going forward, we want to continue with this comprehensive approach, grounded in the principles of quality of life and productivity, looking at, but not limited to, 1. A CPI cost-of-living formula, 2. Continued income tax relief. 3. Land access. 4. Housing programs. 5. Education scholarships. 6. Union officers’ benefits and privileges. And 7, of course, agreed-upon performance targets.”

Usher added that ministry is committed to working along the labor unions to improve various aspects of the country’s public sector.