UWI exams could be affected

END of semester examinations in December for students of  the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus could be severely affected, as a result of work-to-rule action embarked upon by lecturers at the campus. The action began yesterday following consensus at a meeting on Wednesday by members of the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT). Some 420 lecturers comprise WIGUT’s membership. President of the group, Vishnudat Singh, admitted to Newsday their action could “impact severely on the end of semester exams.” Examination papers are due to be submitted by November 10. Singh said already attendance at faculty meetings have been affected, as he himself was due to attend such a meeting yesterday but did not. He said by extension attendance at University Committee meetings will be affected, which will impact on the entire operations of the campus.

He said this is the first time it has taken such a long time to settle negotiations. It has now been 16 months since WIGUT submitted proposals for the revised compensation package for the period August 1, 2002 to July 31, 2005. He said only on October 18, did the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education made recommendations to the Inter-Ministerial Committee. Singh expressed hope that when the Committee meets next Monday the matter will be dealt with and urged all stakeholders to understand the dire predicament in which the lecturers find themselves. He urged the appropriate authorities to facilitate an immediate resumption of meaningful negotiations and a speedy resolution to the impasse. A release from WIGUT said when the Committee met last Monday, a representative of the  Ministry asked that WIGUT’s matter be deferred. The group said neither the University nor itself had been provided with any explanation “for this line of action and the clear lack of urgency in treating with this matter.”

The group said staff at the Mona and Cave Hill campuses have long since settled their matters and are now enjoying the benefits. But St Augustine staff continue to work for 2002 salaries which is causing considerable stress, where the level of dissatisfaction is very high and vacancies cannot be filled. WIGUT is asking for a 30 percent increase in salaries over the period, that is 10 percent in each year. It said such increases are in line with the increases in the upper echelons of the public sector. It said the 30 percent proposal will provide staff on the campus with equivalence to the other campuses, with whom they have to compete in filling academic and senior administrative positions. Minister of Tertiary Education Colm Imbert had said on October 12 that a valiant attempt was being made to stave off protest action by offering a 15 percent pay increase to the lecturers. Efforts to contact the Minister yesterday on the matter proved futile.