UG administration calls for speedy resolution to industrial standoff

Feb 16, 2019 News

Even as it advocates for a speedy resolution in the interest of all concerned, particularly its primary stakeholders – the students, the University of Guyana [UG] administration has maintained that it does not have the fiscal space to meet the demands of the Unions for a 10 and nine percent salary increases for 2018 with respect to support [UB] and academic [UA] staffers.
The administration has also stated that while it is willing to have its financial position be examined by any competent and independent arbiter with a view to pronouncing on the data presented, this will only reflect the financial statements that were presented to the unions. “The administration is ultimately concerned that our students should suffer and that the unions are being urged to act responsibly as we seek to mutually resolve the current impasse in an amicable responsible manner.”
The administration’s disclosure comes on the heels of reports which suggest that the unions – the University of Guyana Workers Union [UGWU] and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association [UGSSA] –are convinced that the Labour Department of the Social Protection Ministry is lacking in its impartiality.
The unions which picketed the university’s Turkeyen campus during the past week are also calling for an audit of the institution’s financial situation.
But according to the administration, due to the current industrial climate at the Turkeyen Campus, it is essential to provide a brief overview on the relations between the Workers’ Unions and the University Administration in the past few months in order to clarify what is being dubbed as misinformation in the public domain.
According to the administration, at its meeting on November 14, 2018, the Finance and General Purposes Committee [F&GPC] of the institution, considered and approved a proposal from the Administration for salary adjustments.
These adjustments were in respect to UA and UB Staff for fiscal year 2018 at rates of three and four percents respectively, acting on the basis of what was financially affordable.
“It must also be noted that an adjustment in base salary also triggers a 20 percent increase in housing allowance,” the administration outlined even as it noted that payments were made in December 2018, retroactive to January 1, 2018 and on a tax free basis.
However, it was noted that when this approval was given, the UGWU’s representative participated in the deliberations of the Committee and voted in favour of the Administration’s proposal.
Of importance, the decision was made “without prejudice to any further negotiations between the Unions and the Administration.”
Subsequent to this decision, it was revealed that the leadership of both Unions objected to the decision of the F&GPC and called the adjustments an “imposition”, while requesting that the matter be referred to the University Council for its consideration.
At a Special Meeting of the Council held on December 20, 2018, the decision of the F&GPC was endorsed and approved by the Council. It was further agreed at the Council that the Administration and Unions should immediately recommence negotiations, mindful that the Vice-Chancellor had extended an earlier invitation to the Unions.

The University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

The meeting, which had been set before the Council meeting, was held on December 18, 2018, and the parties agreed to formalise an agenda with timelines aimed at moving the process of negotiations forward.
It was also agreed that “…should there be any impasse on any agreed item that this would be referred to the Chief Labour Officer whose final decision will be respected by all.”
However, on January 31, 2019, the Administration said that it formally responded to a proposal dated January 11, 2019 for salary adjustments for UA and UB Staff at the rates of 10 percent and nine percent, respectively for 2018. In keeping with the request of the Unions, the administration submitted the Financial Statement of the Income and Expenditure for period January 1 to December 31, 2018.
Further, as there were some Liabilities as at December 31, 2018, the administration said, “out of a committed desire for transparency, provided the Unions’ Leadership with the Net Cash Position after Liabilities as of December 31, 2018.”
In view of the Statements provided to the unions, the administration said that it advised that the university is not in a financial position to meet the 10 and nine percent increases. In response to the unions’ proposal, the administration gave a commitment to immediately commence negotiations for 2019 and to mutually agree on adjustments that are both affordable and sustainable.
“In their response of February 4, 2019 to the Administration’s letter of January 31, 2019, the Unions conveyed their rejection of the final offer of three percent and four percent, respectively. The administration also reaffirmed the desire and willingness to negotiate on all other matters raised in the February 4, 2019 letter from the unions,” the administration stated. It was further recommended that the matter be referred to the Ministry of Labour for conciliation as was mutually agreed to on December 18, 2018.
The Administration subsequently advised the Department of Labour of the desire to have the matter bought to conciliation.
The Department of Labour, according to the administration, invited both parties to a conciliation meeting on February 12, 2019. At the meeting, it was noted, that the Chief Labour Officer advised that in the absence of a signed Collective Labour Agreement between the University and the Unions, the provision of Labour Act Cap 98:01 Section 4 was being triggered to conciliate the matter.
The parties were further advised that once conciliation commences Industrial Action should immediately cease. In response to the guidance provided by the Department of Labour, the unions pointed out that they were neither prepared for, nor amenable to conciliation and would explore other avenues in seeking a resolution to this matter, the administration added.