Nationwide Sickout Shuts Down Schools as Teachers Demand Pay Raise

Dozens of classrooms across the country were closed; parents were called to collect their children, and hundreds of teachers were reportedly sick.  Today, a nationwide sick out was led by the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), prompting many educators to take a day off from work.  It is unclear if the teachers will be paid for today’s absences, but that seemed to have been the least of their worries as they are currently lobbying for an eight point five percent increase in salaries.  Reporter Vejea Alvarez liaised with our correspondents across the country’s mainland and filed the following report.

Nadia Caliz, National President, BNTU: “I’m not feeling well  and I’m heading off to bed and if I’m still not well tomorrow I’ve got to ensure that I see a doctor.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News:  And it seems that flu may have affected hundreds of teachers. This morning, students across mainland Belize were sent home as teachers staged a nationwide sick-out. The move followed a vote by members of the Belize National Teachers Union rejecting the government’s 3% salary increase and other assurances. The union described the offer as insufficient and disrespectful, a far cry from their initial demand for an 8.5% salary increase and unfrozen increments. As a result, countless classrooms across the country were left empty and many students were left without any supervision. While she has not responded to her newsroom’s calls, BNTU National President Nadia Caliz took to social media last night to announce the decision.

Nadia Caliz, National President, BNTU: “1,532 members voted no. While 438 members voted yes to the 3% salary adjustment proposal, that is clearly stating that the majority is saying no to the 3% salary adjustment being proposed by government. As it pertains to the reinstatement of their frozen increments the BNTU strongly believes, as well as other unions, that you have worked for that.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: While he was yet to receive official word, Minister of Education, Oscar Requena, called the rejection rather unfortunate. He defended the government’s proposal, stating that it was the best offer based on what the government could afford.

Oscar Requena, Minister of Education: “I did not see her presentation, But if that is the case, I would say that it is rather unfortunate because the joint negotiating team met with the leaders, I believe we had a very cordial, respectful and very productive meeting and I had hoped that, we had hoped, of course, that the unions would seriously consider the proposal presented to them. Given the fact that at this point I believe that government is proposing what it can give.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: While the BNTU has firmly rejected the proposal, the Public Service Union is still deliberating. Nonetheless, its president Dean Flowers, expressed support for the BNTU’s action emphasizing solidarity with the teachers.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “This is not a BNTU fight. This is a joint unions fight, saying to the government collectively that our membership, the people that we represent, has suffered.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: The government argues that the overall increase would lead to a cumulative 14% rise in salaries. But the BNTU rejects this claim, asserting that it does not address its members’ needs.

Nadia Caliz, National President, BNTU: “The deferred increments that they’re giving us back on the 1st of April, that’s what they’re looking at, and they’re bringing it up to that. For us as a union, we don’t see it that way. Because you have worked for that. You have worked for that. You have worked for that. And not every single member will get an increment. You have to earn that. There’s a criteria that you have to follow. So throwing that out there, I call it propaganda. I call it gimmick. There are all these things that politicians will do just to mislead the people. But don’t be misled my BNTU members.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: The government’s proposal came after several rounds of negotiation with the joint unions and their negotiating team. Minister Requena underscored that the proposal was made in good faith and reflected the discussions held during those meetings.

Oscar Requena, Minister of Education: “We value our teachers. We respect our teachers. We have had a very strong collaboration and support with our teachers and even the PSU who are public servants. But the truth of the matter is that as a government, we have to be responsible for everybody. Not only the teachers, not only the public servants. We must ensure that the government can continue to provide other services to the nation. And that is why, at this point, what was presented is what government views as being viable.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: With the sick-out now marking a significant escalation in the ongoing negotiations, many are questioning whether the BNTU will return to the negotiating table. And whether teachers will remain outside the classroom. Meanwhile, Minister Requena pleaded with the teachers to reconsider their position.

Oscar Requena, Minister of Education: “Respectfully, we understand that our teachers and our public servants have rights. We fully understand and appreciate that, but we also want them to be considerate and to work with the government because I firmly believe that the government is working in good faith. We want to see this matter resolved. In fact, yesterday you may have heard a presentation made by Minister Henry Usher, where he indicated that, you know, if you were to really calculate even though it is a phased-in approach in terms of the benefits, it really works out to about almost 14 percent. So really, I think it’s something that our teachers should consider.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News.