Teachers Demand Action: BNTU Members Vote Overwhelmingly for January Demonstration

Teachers are preparing to send a message to the government of Belize that they mean business about their unpaid allowances and increments. Over nineteen hundred teachers participated in a survey carried out by the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) with over 1,800 responses calling for a demonstration in January. BNTU National President Nadia Martin-Caliz that the teachers were promised their payouts in October, but that didn’t happen. She said that she asked that they be patient until the end of November, but when the payments weren’t made, the membership gave the union a mandate to address the issue with urgent action. Martin Caliz says that the process toward industrial action starts today. 

Nadia Martin Caliz, National President, BNTU: “Our data showed at that time that at least 75% of our membership did not get anything. Anything. Well, the ones who responded, right? So we’re talking about those who responded, nothing. Later on, when November came and they didn’t get anything, every single person, they reached out to us. And that proved then, at that time, we’re looking somewhere around 90% of our membership. And when I talk about membership, I want to make it clear here. You have the BNTU membership and those are the persons who meet the three months or more. And then you have our enrollment because we have people that are coming in and they have only paid one month. So when we talk about database, we talk about the enrollment, which is over 4,000. But when you watch your membership, those who you consider to be BNTU members fully fledged members with benefits that is above 3,500. And so the votes cast last night gave the BNTU the mandate to act on this, treat it with urgency. And as usual when we are getting ready for any form of industrial action we have to follow due process. And due process goes like this, there is a black and white that goes to the Ministry of Education outlining what the teachers are asking for. If that is not adhered to or followed any at all, then there’s where you go into what we call, right now they voted for a demonstration in January. There is no date set for that because we have to allow the dialogue and the other portion to take place. So the black and white leaves our office today for the Ministry of Education.”

Martin-Caliz said that the issues have been ongoing for some time and that the Union recently met with Chief Education Officer Yolanda Gongora. The union asked pointedly if they would get their payouts but did not get an answer. Martin-Caliz says that the issue needs to be addressed systemically because teachers are leaving the profession out of frustration.

Nadia Martin Caliz, National President, BNTU: “The dialogue simply means we’re stating our demands, and you will tell us how you will address it. If it’s not addressed then we take it up a notch. And so we have been given the permission to take it up one notch, which is a demonstration. Education is at risk in this country. Teachers are leaving like never before. There are still empty classrooms in this country. And in order for those teachers students to get quality education, you find that the classes are divided. And in some instances, there’s nobody there. None. Now, why is it that we have teachers leaving? Because of all of these nuances. So either you fix it and bring love back to the profession or you continue to allow it. But I’m telling you, come 2025, if this is not corrected, I’m talking September ’25. I’m not saying the BNTU is waiting until then. I’m just looking at the new school year. They will have some challenges because a number of them have already expressed to us that they are leaving education. So who will be here, who will be in the country now to educate the nation’s future? Who? Right now, we don’t have a mandate for a strike. What we did is that we placed a condition in there if we could re-engage them, in case we don’t get, their demands is we’re not able to achieve that. If it reaches a point, then we, like I said, we have to go back to membership. Now, when you talk about making up time, I’m hoping we don’t get there.”

The union says that the government has until December 31, to make the payouts, or action will follow. We reiterate that the union is contemplating a demonstration and not a strike, which has its own procedure that needs to be followed.