MEDIATION, AN ALTERNATIVE

The West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT), rather than proceed with its threat to shut down the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies on Monday if its salary demands are not met by that time should instead explore the alternative, open to it, of having the issue referred to the Industrial Court for mediation under the Industrial Relations Act. It is an avenue open to WIGUT, as it is to any and all other negotiating bodies, and should WIGUT opt instead to go ahead with its industrial action the major victims will be the students at the St Augustine campus, who, however unitentionally, are the pawns in the industrial relations conflict between Government and the trade union. It is the welfare and future of the University students which should be of concern to both parties.

We have issued the call for mediation or, should WIGUT believe this course unacceptable, then restraint, even as we appreciate Thursday’s plea by campus Principal, Dr Bhoe Tewarie, to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for a speedy resolution to the impasse. Dr Tewarie, clearly concerned at the hurt that could be caused by WIGUT’s threatened industrial action, has offered that the matter could be resolved through Government’s acceding to a one percent increase in its offer made to WIGUT. Even as we understand what prompted Dr Tewarie’s appeal, the  crisis he is seeking to head off, we maintain that WIGUT should seek the avenue of mediation.

Indeed, Dr Tewarie’s argument that resolution could be had with a mere upping by Government of its offer by one percent demonstrates that not only are the two parties close to an agreement, but that the difference is extremely small. Does WIGUT believe seriously that a strategy of shutting down an entire campus, merely to gain an additional one percent increase, is worth the denying of access by thousands of University students to being taught by its members? And while this interruption will have a negative impact on the studies and progress of even first and second year undergraduate students, this will be far more serious for students due to take their final examinations in a few months’ time.

In turn, even as WIGUT members concentrate on a relatively modest one percent, there are students at the St Augustine campus from countries in the Commonwealth Caribbean other than Trinidad and Tobago, who while locals pay only half of the fees, are required, in the absence of scholarships, to pay all. Many of them are from small and middle income families and should any stoppage of work by WIGUT, if indeed it takes place, be prolonged, would have to secure additional funding to pay for private tutors. In addition, they will be subjected to a level of stress that may very well affect both their ability to concentrate and their results in the crucial around the corner examinations.

If the University Lecturers and other relevant staff are convinced of the reasonableness of their arguments for a better financial package should they not believe as well that mediation will likely prove them right? Meanwhile, if WIGUT is as determined, as it appears, to use the extreme industrial relations weapon of withholding of labour as a tactic to advance its case for an increase acceptable to it, then could Government, in the interest of the students, not seek intervention of the Minister of Labour? We say this, not to dismiss the position of WIGUT, but merely to protect the interests of the students.  Both Government and WIGUT must accept responsibility for the difficult position in which the St Augustine campus Principal, Dr Tewarie, was placed forcing him in the interests of the students and the University itself to plead with Government to accede.