Prolonged strike action at UG gets political attention

Feb 28, 2015 News

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As the fifth week of strike action at the University of Guyana (UG) winds down, workers of the tertiary institution

are reiterating their vow to continue industrial action if there is no acceptable offer to their salary increase and other demands.
At the same time, many students of the institution are embracing the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS’) s #UGRevolution initiative which is aimed at improving the deplorable state of the institution, even as efforts are made to return its operation to normalcy
While the workers refuse to work, with some picketing outside the University or simply staying at home on a daily basis, students in recent days have decided to block the entrance of the institution. The latter group have adopted a tactic that embraces “all classes or no classes,” which yesterday, resulted in a confrontation with ranks of the Guyana Police Force who have been closely monitoring the development centred at the front entrance of the University.
Both workers and students have insisted that they will not relent until there is a resolution.
Based on information reaching this publication, no attempts have been made by the University’s Administration in recent days to address the concerns that are being vocalised.
In fact, Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul, said that he too is awaiting a “sign” from either side – the Unions and the University’s Administration – in order to aid a resolution along.
Government support needed
But according to veteran educator, Ms Amna Ally, who also happens to be Chief Whip of A Partnership for

National Unity, the onus is on Government to address the situation. In fact, she is adamant that Government should have long responded to the pay increase and other demands of the striking workers.
The workers through their unions – the University of Guyana Workers Union and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association – during negotiations with the University’s Negotiating Team had demanded a 60 per cent across the board increase along with other benefits and improved conditions. The Administration on the other hand, had offered a five per cent increase for this year and 10 per cent for the following two years, an offer that was rejected by workers.
The Unions had since countered that offer by proposing, at the minimum, a 25 per cent increase. But Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Opadeyi, instead made a decision to withdraw the University’s offer insisting that the workers return to work before a resumption of negotiations.
But according to APNU’s Ally a 60 per cent increase for the workers of the University is certainly not too much. This is in light of the fact that the University seems incapable of meeting the financial need Ally said. “I think the Government should respond to the workers’ demand…they (workers) are fair in what they are asking for.”
She continued by sharing her conviction that for too long Government has been plugging sizeable sums into “unimportant projects such as the Marriott and has been neglecting the lone national institution. Instead of doing those they should address their minds to UG,” said Ally of the Government.
Failure to address the situation at UG, she added, is by extension affecting the young people and the future of the nation.
Unfortunate development

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, in commenting on the issue yesterday too, said “I think that it is highly unfortunate what’s happening at UG.” As the Minister considered the situation she reflected on the institution’s founding purpose to build capacity for a developing Guyana.
Moreover, she in directing specific attention to the standoff between the Unions and the University’s Administration noted that, “while both sides have arguments, and I find merit in the arguments on both sides, what I would like to see is everybody dropping their egos and what appears to be intractable positions and put the University first.”
“Nobody could tell me that human beings, who are as educated and who have the interest of the University at heart, and I know that both sides do, could not find a way to work out their issues that would bring resolution to the present problem of the University…,” asserted the Minister.
In commenting directly to the question of possible financial support from Government, the Education Minister noted that there are a number of things “that we are going to have to look at as a nation.”
“No University can function with some of the things that are happening there and I don’t want to get into these, because I understand that there are talks…but in terms of Government intervening, we have to remember that the University is run by a Council and that Council is comprised of members who are mandated by law,” said the Minister.
She added too, that since the University’s Council has representation from several factions of society “for Government to insert itself without an invitation would be very, very undemocratic and it would not be in keeping with good governance principles.”
However, the Minister observed that they’ve gone as far as to invite the two disputing sides to engage each other as part of efforts to realising a resolution.  “I have seen the Ministry of Labour almost begging them to allow it to work, and I have seen a refusal so I hope that things work themselves out. I believe they can and I believe we will see a resolution shortly,” said the optimistic Education Minister.
Strike action to continue
Meanwhile, the President of the UGGSA, Dr Mellissa Ifill made it pellucid yesterday that while the workers are prepared to accept a 10 per cent interim salary increase in order to return to work, they are not willing to accept that offer unofficially. She spoke of an unofficial 10 per cent offer being touted but insisted that “we must get this in writing before we return to work and continue negotiations to arrive at an acceptable percentage.”
As such she noted that strike action will continue until an official agreement is met.

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