No Easter break for Joint Union Negotiating Team as meetings on proposed salary cut continue

Published by BBN Staff at March 30, 2021

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Posted: Tuesday, March 30, 2021. 10:01 am CST.

By Benjamin Flowers: Negotiations between the Government of Belize (GOB) and the Joint Union Negotiating Team (JUNT) over cost-cutting measures for the public sector are scheduled to continue through the Easter holidays.

Belize National Teacher’s Union (BNTU) President Elena Smith, during an online live-stream last night explained that the team and GOB have meetings set for Good Friday and Easter Monday, as negotiations continue.

In the last update, the JUNT noted that GOB has decided against implementing recommendations in its good governance measures proposed by the unions. GOB also reportedly took the position that cutting telephone and entertainment allowance would only save an ” inconsequential and negligible” 0.02 percent of GDP and as such these allowances would not be discontinued.

The government also maintains its position on the 10 percent salary deduction for teaches and public officers, which is one of the major points of contention for the JUNT.

Public Service Union (PSU) First Vice President Dean Flowers recently said that the parties seemed to have come to an impasse and that the parties might need to seek some form of arbitration or trade dispute mechanism to arrive at a solution because the JUNT remains steadfast on resisting a salary cut.

We will continue to follow this story.

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