Unions representing the interest of workers at the University of Guyana have threatened to resume strike action which had crippled teaching activities at the Tain and Turkeyen campuses for almost two months.
In a press statement on Monday, the unions complained that the negotiations in which increased salaries and better working conditions are being sought, are seeing no real effort from the University administration’s end with the Vice Chancellor insisting that salary increases cannot be afforded at this time.
Industrial action could resume if all salaries for March including the 10 percent interim pay-hike are not delivered to staff by Thursday, March 19, the unions said.
In the release, the Unions threatened to resist all attempts to impose ‘work-back-times’ that have been determined without agreement from the Unions and said that the backlog to ‘work back’ must be connected to the strike period.
“The Unions have a commitment from the Personnel Division that this clause in the TOR agreement will be honoured and we will not tolerate any deviations,” the released noted while adding that monies deducted from February salaries must be paid in March salaries.
The unions reasoned that notwithstanding the unproductive nature of the first negotiation meeting following our resumption of duties and the Administration’s blunt refusal to meet any of their demands the Unions negotiators would give the negotiations process one more opportunity and attend another negotiations meeting.
A petition is expected to be launched calling for the resignation and or dismissal of the Vice Chancellor and his senior administrative group, if the demands of the union are not met.
Filed: 16th March 2015
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