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“We have to meet people’s demands” -Education Minister weighs in on UG’s problems
Staff Unions of the University of Guyana have been in a constant battle to have the salaries
Education Minister,
Dr. Rupert Roopnarine
of the institution’s workers, increased.
Weighing in on this plight, Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine said, “We have to meet people’s demands.”
In an interview with Kaieteur News, the Minister noted, “We need to ensure that we have satisfied workers.”
But the Minister’s good intentions reflect a different reality from what is being painted by the UG administration. Vice Chancellor of the tertiary institution, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, has been complaining of a financial shortfall.
He has given this as the reason behind the 35 percent hike in tuition fees, as well as the delay in the negotiations for staff salaries.
Reminded of Professor Griffith’s concerns, Minister Roopnarine informed that he will be making a special effort to engage the Ministry of Finance to work out increased subventions for the University.
“This is where we have to go,” Roopnarine said.
The unions representing employees of the University of Guyana met with members of the institution’s administration last week, following an intervention by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC).
While no decision was taken in relation to the salary increases being demanded by workers, the
Bruce Haynes, President of the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU)
unions are moving to craft a proposal, intended to guard them against being omitted from discussions relating to salaries.
This was according to Bruce Haynes, President of the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU).
“The proposal that we are going to present to the (UG administration) is going to be futuristic,” Haynes said.
The union representative has often decried the conditions under which employees of the university are forced to work.
“In addition to the wages and salaries, the proposal will also highlight issues relating to conditions of employment. The inadequate environment in which persons are forced to work and so on,” Haynes said.
He noted, too, that they often omitted exercise of job evaluation which is also a component of the proposal.
Dr. Jewel Thomas, President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association indicated on Tuesday, that the university’s administration has been blaming the shortfall in Government subventions, for its “inability” to raise salaries.
Dr. Thomas rejected the argument that staffers can only be afforded an increase in pay, if students of the university pay the proposed 35 percent fee hike.
“We do not back that argument at all. We do not need to be put against the students…We are not going to say that students have to pay an increased tuition in order for us to get proper pay,” Dr. Thomas asserted.
She is of the firm belief that decent salary increases for UG staff can be facilitated with the very subvention approved by the government.
“(The UG administration) can look after us from what the government has allocated, Dr. Thomas argued. (Rehana Ahamad)
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