PORT OF SPAIN – Lecturers at the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) have embarked on industrial action in support of their union’s demand for increased salaries.
The West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) said that it understands and empathises deeply with the frustration of the staff, which stemmed from the decade-long delay in resolving salary negotiations.
“The prolonged hardship and uncertainty are exacerbated by the rising cost of living in the post-covid era, which has intensified financial pressures on all categories of staff,” the union said.
The lecturers, who say they are against a two per cent wage hike, Thursday began their two-day industrial action and WIGUT said management had been following up on outstanding proposals diligently and had been encouraged by positive assurances in the national budget and in meetings.
“However, as the teaching term concludes and examinations begin, the lack of concrete responses, or gains have heightened concerns.
“The anguish is deepened because both Cave Hill, Barbados and Mona, Jamaica, which began negotiations long after St Augustine, have concluded negotiations satisfactorily and received generous increases.”
It said that those countries recognised the valuable contributions that the UWI continues to bring to their countries and region, contributing directly to the GDP (gross domestic product). “St Augustine staff remains the poorest in the UWIverse. The result is increasing attrition of staff and increased difficulty to attract quality staff,” it said
WIGUT president, Indira Rampersad, said workers could no longer work on 2014 salaries, and that many UWI staff members have already opted to take up offers, “not just in Barbados and Jamaica, but also United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Our members have been fleeing at a high rate”.
UWI says it remains steadfast in its commitment to communicate with the government to resolve this impasse.
“No principal or employer can rest easy when protests occur. We worry about our students who are the ones most impacted by such action. It disrupts their academic experience, creating anxiety during a critical time.
“We therefore urge all parties to move this process forward productively and swiftly, ensuring a resolution that benefits not only our staff, but also the students who depend on the stability and excellence of The UWI experience. Our goal is to uphold The UWI ‘s mission as a transformative force for TT and the wider region, it added.
UWI principal Prof Rose-Marie Belle Antoine said while she empathised with the plight of staff and acknowledged their protest action, there is little that could be done.
“For over two years my management has been following up diligently on all outstanding proposals. We have been encouraged by positive assurances in the national budget and in meetings; however, as the teaching term concludes and examinations begin, the lack of concrete responses or gains have heightened concerns,” she added. (CMC)
