Public Service Union Engages in Training to Strengthen Workers’ Rights Advocacy

The Public Service Union (PSU) wants to improve its effectiveness and strengthen its ability to fight for workers’ rights. The union is currently engaged in a week-long training with Public Service International’s Sub-Regional Secretary for the Caribbean Sandra Massiah. The contact mission aims to bring together key public sector stakeholders to bolster their capabilities in handling union matters. PSU Assistant Secretary General Cordelia Belezaire provided additional details. 

Cordelia Belezaire, Assistant Secretary General, Public Service Union: “The purpose of the contact mission with Sister Massiah from Public Service International is just to help to build capacity within the union, to discuss strategies, how to be effective in our communication as well as discussion around the intersection between unionism and politics as well. So the overall focus is to empower us, strengthen our skills so that we could continue to advocate and lobby for our rights. It’s a week session, a weeklong and with each day we have different sessions. We started off with our council of management so there was a lot of discussion and engagement yesterday with those of us who are in these leadership positions within the union. Today now we’re dealing with the women so today is always about women’s leadership within the Public Service Union. Tomorrow is going to be the youths and then Thursday is going to be the local municipalities. So it’s just a cross section of different public service union members and as well as potential especially when we look at local municipalities.”

Belezaire added that the initiative is a part of the measures being taken by the union to improve its overall effectiveness.

Cordelia Belezaire, Assistant Secretary General, Public Service Union: “Given Sister Massiah’s role in the region she would often tour the different countries that are a part of the Caribbean Public Service Association and so we’re fortunate to be graced with her presence in Belize and as she helps us to build our capacity and lead the charge forward being more effective in the way in which we deliver our message to other public officers. I’d just like to encourage other public officers to join the union because it is only collectively that we’re able to get what needs to be done, done. It’s only collectively that we are able to lobby and negotiate more effectively.”

The training ends on Saturday.