WIGUT to decide on offer today

THE WEST Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) is today expected to decide if it will accept the new proposal offered by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education. The group will meet today with its members from noon at the St Augustine campus to get directives on the proposal. Representatives of the group met yesterday afternoon with the negotiating team from the campus’ administration to discuss the proposal which the ministry offered last Friday. The WIGUT team was led by president Vishnudat Singh, while the administrative team was led by Hollis Nicholas, senior assistant registrar, human resources.

Before the discussions, the WIGUT executive met at noon to discuss the package. The proposal for consideration is a three, four and eight percent offer for the three year period — 2002 to 2005, plus a three percent regional allowance in the third year. The regional allowance was consolidated with basic salaries in 2002. There are other details for consideration by the group, which will be revealed if they are accepted. However even as the negotiations went ahead, WIGUT members, which includes academic, professional and senior administrative staff, wore red yesterday. Singh said many persons wore red, but he was unable to give a percentage. He said one thing was evident though, classes were not affected.

He said there was a full turnout of lecturers and students and a noticeable shortage of car parking space. He said if members recommend that the proposal be accepted, all industrial action will immediately stop, and students will receive results for last semester’s exams. Singh has described the offer as a “significant move,” although it remains at 15 percent, which they previously rejected. WIGUT was originally asking for 30 percent, but later said it would  accept 20 percent as was first offered by the administration. The new offer was made after lecturers absented themselves from classes last week Monday, effectively preventing most classes from being held.