In a statement, Union President Melissa Ifill said “we are aware of the possible implications of our actions on our students and the University as a whole. Our aim is not to make the students or the University suffer. We are encouraged by public statements that indicate some support for our cause from the UG student leaders. Please help our students to understand that we are simply insisting on better standards and conditions at the University which will be beneficial to them as well”.

The union representative noted also that staff members at the University have been suffering for a long time “from starvation wages and an extremely poor and oftentimes dangerous working environment. Notwithstanding the fact that we are already grossly underpaid for the work we already do, we are now experiencing a dictatorial administration that seeks to impose even more work and duties upon us. We have acted in good faith and sought to negotiate with the Administration since May 2012.”

“Just when we appeared to be making slow but somewhat promising progress in our wages and salaries negotiation, the Council intervened, cancelled a scheduled negotiation meeting and halted the process on the grounds that no remit was given and questioning the credentials of the UGSSA [when the administration was directly responsible for our non-certification]. This is simply the latest of a myriad number of excuses we have been given over the past 30 months. It is time we said, ‘enough!’. I encourage all staff to join in the action as any benefits derived from this process, will be received by all”, the statement added.

Staff members are expected to meet over the coming days to address the situation and other options they might want to employ to move forward. They have been pressing the University for increased wages and salaries.

Filed: 23rd January, 2015