Joint Unions Demand Government Commitment to Collective Bargaining Agreement

The Joint Unions, better known as JUNT, are upset with the Government, alleging that it is acting in bad faith and not fully invested in the process of getting the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed.  The group issued a release a few minutes ago, decrying the recent actions of the Government Side in postponing the long-awaited sign-off of the almost sixteen-year CBA document.  The release notes that the CBA, which has been the subject of extensive negotiations over the past several months, and berthed from proposals submitted to government as far back as December 2008, addresses key issues such as wage adjustments, working conditions and benefits for thousands of public sector employees. It was not until late yesterday afternoon, June 4th, 2024, that an email was sent to the Joint Union Team, postponing the event, without any explanation or the courtesy of a newly proposed sign off date. JUNT finds this action of the Government Side both dismissive and disrespectful. We have, in good faith, engaged patiently and professionally with the Government Side for all these years. Our actions have proven our dedication and commitment to bringing this matter to a final conclusion but we sincerely feel that after Government’s grand standing of its intent regarding BNTU’s Special Proposal 22, they are no longer fully invested in the process.  Essentially, the JUNT is calling for immediate transparency from the Government team and requesting that the Deputy Prime Minister, Cordel Hyde, lead negotiator for the Government team, provide them with a new sign off date, no later than Monday, June 10.  The Joint Unions Negotiating Team is made up of representatives of the membership of the Association of Public Sector Senior Managers (APSSM), the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) and the Public Service Union (PSU).