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“A crisis of national proportions”
– UG Students’ Society seeks legal advice to appease state of affairs
The uncompromising stance evident between the University of Guyana’s Administration and the entity’s workers’ unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) – has left the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) seeking legal advice to remedy the situation.
The UGSS representatives at yesterday’s press conference
This is in light of the fact that executive members of the UGSS believe that students have merely become “collateral damage” following a breakdown of negotiations over salary and other benefits, which has since seen the engagement of industrial action by workers. This has resulted in some lecturers not turning up for work, thus depriving students of sessions to advance their education.
At a press conference held in the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus yesterday, President of the UGSS, Joshua Griffith, regarded the existing state of affairs as “a crisis of national proportions. Our students are suffering. This is a crisis.”
According to him, coupled with the deadlock between the Administration and Unions which has led to grave and undesired uncertainty of class schedules is the fact that students of the premiere tertiary institution are sorely disappointed and frustrated at the prevailing substandard conditions at the University.
Griffith disclosed that the UGSS has, from the inception, worked assiduously to ensure the soonest resolution to the prevailing impasse which has been evident by its letters to the Council; numerous meetings with the Administration and with representatives from both Unions. There were also tripartite meetings aimed at reaching a resolution.
The UGSS President at yesterday’s press conference told media operatives that the magnitude of “this catastrophe” has led to the formulation of the UGSS Special Committee. Members of the Special Committee and other UGSS representatives flanked Griffith at the press conference where it was revealed that the formulation of the Special Committee was designed to ensure the soonest resumption of normal class schedules. According to Griffith, “this Committee has been working feverishly to this end.”
He however noted, that while the UGSS has stood in solidarity with the cause of the UG workers for improved working conditions and compensation packages, the on-going industrial action is one that harshly affects students.
“We wish to advocate at this time that no effort be spared to return to the negotiation table in good faith and following due process – for the sake of the students; for the sake of the University of Guyana.”
Griffith at yesterday’s forum also said that students remain disappointed at the Administration’s efforts to communicate clearly its position at this critical time and went on to note that “We are cognizant that this situation is beyond the purview of administration and extends to powers of the Council.”
“The students therefore, call on the University of Guyana Council to actively and immediately return to the negotiation table. Your abstention is to the daily detriment of students,” said Griffith as he pointed out that “withdrawal from negotiations has evidently played a significant role in this dire situation.”
“Further abstention could only be viewed as solidarity for the injustice to students and support for the breach of our fundamental Right of access to Education,” added the UGSS President as he noted that the lack of direct intervention by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour “is a crying shame, a gross inadequacy”.
“They must reassure this nation that they have not lost sight of their fundamental mandate of service to students and workers respectively,” added Griffith.
According to Ianna Graham, Secretary of the Special Committee, in order to deal with the situation faced by students, several avenues have been explored with a view of returning UG to normalcy. She noted that one of the strategic tactics is highlighting students’ concerns through the media, and by seeking intervention from international organisations such as United Nations Children Fund, the University of the West Indies, and possible legal redress. And according to Graham, “We are currently in the process of seeking legal advice.”
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