Unions Stage Airport Protest Over 8.5 Percent Salary Demand

The unions may have gone quiet over the past few days, but their fight for a full eight-point five salary increase seems far from over.  The actions of protest continued today, this time at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA).  According to the President of the Public Service Union (PSU), Dean Flowers, the idea was to ensure that their moves were impactful, and in this case, that it would get the international attention.  And so, just after eleven o’clock this morning, after meeting with staff members of the National MET Service and Civil Aviation, a protest developed on the airport grounds.  It wasn’t an incident that blocked the arrivals and departures of travelers or flights, but it did get some traction from the local media.  Reporter Jaleeza Roberts was there and filed the following report.

Dean Flowers, President, PSU: “I came to pick up my people that came in from Miami, what’s wrong with these people here? Something is wrong with this government man. And the tourists need to know, no contribution that they make here goes to the Belizean people. It goes in the pockets of a few.”

Jaleeza Roberts, Love News: An arrival pick-up or a staged protest ? What was meant to be a powerful statement against the government quickly turned into a spectacle. Public Service Union President Dean Flowers, initially appearing coy, was followed by union supporters at the Philip Goldson International Airport. Upon arrival they were met with a heavy police presence and an unwelcoming atmosphere, a clear sign that word of the protests had spread in advance. As flowers drew attention at the main entrance distracting the respective authorities, supporters gathered nearby, hoisting signs and chanting in defiance transforming the airport’s arrival zone into a platform for civil resistance. 

Union Member: “Today was geared towards letting the tourists understand what’s going on in Belize. We welcome you, we welcome all the tourists in the country, but as such, we have a lot of things that are going on. Important for Belize to recognize that we don’t have freedom of speech anymore. We don’t have freedom of expression. We don’t have freedom of congregating. It’s important for you to recognize that now you’re starting to harass the trade unionists.”

Jaleeza Roberts, Love News: Despite being few in numbers, The unionist believes that they made a difference by targeting an industry that contributes to approximately 46 % of Belize’s economy. Between mounting pressure for fair compensation and mounting frustration over unfulfilled promises, the question remains, did today’s airport protests tip the scales? While questions linger over their impact at the decision table, Flowers asserts that the PGIA is now “our stomping ground” and vows “we will return.”

Dean Flowers, President, PSU: “It is important that the government understand the PGIA will be our new stomping grounds. We will return here. It’s right here all the excitement will happen until justice is served and public officers are given what they are due. They need to get their financial tsar to go out there and find the money that is owed to us. Because the PGIA we will return here. This will become our new stomping ground.”

Jaleeza Roberts, Love News: Between fighting for salary increases and greater benefits, the government of Belize has not given them their request in its entirety which is sounding the alarm. What will come out of today’s protest is still anyone’s guess. As we know, we have seen legal repercussions in most recent times. But Union Senator Glenfield Denison says he hopes that the matter won’t make it to court.

Glenfield Denison, Union Senator: “The sign for the prosecutor, imagine that. I hope it’s not me they want to take those cases to court because my conscience won’t allow me to do that.”

Jaleeza Roberts, Love News: Whether today’s demonstration shifts government policy or not, the Public Service Union has made one thing clear. They are far from finished. As tensions rise and negotiations stall, all eyes remain on what the next move will be. For now, the fight for the 8.5 continues. Jaleeza Roberts, Love News.