No classes at UWI

MEMBERS of the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) yesterday began withdrawing their services at the St Augustine campus of the UWI, and will continue to stay away today and tomorrow, with a third “red day” planned for Friday. Their action follows last week’s withdrawal of services, which caused a severe disruption of classes on the campus. The proposed action will again disrupt classes, but students are  not in support of the action this time.

On Monday WIGUT met with the administrative negotiating team, but failed to reach consensus, after discovering that the proposal was for “teaching staff only.” They said they were trying to get clarification on the matter. However, yesterday at a lunch time meeting at room 101, Faculty of Engineering, to loud desk thumping, WIGUT members agreed to “two days of withdrawal of services and a red day on Friday” and “to exercise their legs and walk to administration in a show of solidarity and total rejection of the proposal.”

Over 200 members who attended the meeting were led in the walk by president Vishnudat Singh and his executive. On reaching the steps of the administration building, there were clapping and chants of “we want we money right now.” Singh told reporters it was a clear indication from the stance adopted by WIGUT members, “that what we are setting out to do will be successfully achieved in the next three days.” He said he hoped the “powers that be, would respond to our initiatives and our willingness to reach a satisfactory resolution to this dispute.”

Government, through the Public Sector Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has offered WIGUT a 15 percent increase in salaries spread over the three year period — 2002 to 2005 at three, four and eight percent, plus a three percent regional allowance in the third year. WIGUT had rejected the initial 15 percent spread at two, three and ten percent. Singh said they were willing to take full advantage of the offer on the table, but wanted the remit “expanded to include all the members in the bargaining unit represented by WIGUT.” He stressed that the university was a “teaching and research institution, but it needs support at all kinds of levels.”

Singh admitted that there were some members of the administrative negotiating team who would benefit in a manner “similar to us,” but he said WIGUT had no problems excluding them from the process, as they could negotiate separately. Singh insisted the campus had no teaching staff as the proposal suggested, but rather there was an academic staff who did teaching, research, professional and public service. He said WIGUT would return to the negotiating table “once clearance comes to eliminate that clause (teaching staff only) and insert all members represented by WIGUT, and insert the clause excluding the senior management.” Singh added that before the agreement can be concluded there were other items to be sorted out. He said of the 16 items, agreement has been reached on at least 14.

Asked whether they could be disciplined for their actions, Singh said, “we believe that the university will understand that the action being taken by WIGUT is justifiable and no action will be taken against us.” He stressed that WIGUT cannot shut down the campus, but acknowledged that the action “will push back” the work of students. Singh said they have been very careful not to “alienate the student population.” He said attempts would be made to reach Guild president Glen Ramadarsingh to communicate details of the action. Several students interviewed said they did not support WIGUT because they were concerned about the monies paid and about the impact the action would have on exams. The campus principal Dr Bhoe Tewarie is out of the country. His office has informed him of WIGUT’s decision, and he has refrained from commenting.