The University of Guyana administration has rejected the accusation that it has breached the terms of resumption (ToR) with the two UG unions which ended five weeks of industrial action earlier this month.
In a statement on Monday reacting to charges by the union that the ToR had been breached, the UG administration said that it had worked assiduously to prepare salaries within three working days of the full resumption of work on March 3.
In the statement, Vice-Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi categorically denied claims that the administration had breached two items of the ToR firstly, that there shall be no loss of pay for strike days and no loss of work for the university; mutually agreeable arrangements will be put in place in order to complete the backlog of work and to meet all university deadlines and that all salaries withheld for strike action shall be immediately released upon both parties signing the ToR.
Secondly, that the parties will resume negotiations at the bi-lateral level within seven days of resumption of duties, and will first address allowances and other conditions of work in the Memorandum of Demands. The parties will then address the multi-year salary agreement. The parties also agreed that should they fail to resolve their differences by June 30, 2015 the Labour Ministry will conciliate in the matter.
Opadeyi said after five weeks of “unfortunate and avoidable industrial action that saw a virtual closure of the University” the university unions and university negotiation teams signed a ‘Terms of Resumption’ on March 2 and the workers returned to work on March 3. Upon the full resumption on March 3, the Bursary staff worked in earnest to prepare the salaries for workers that were on strike. That task was completed within three working days; on March 5. “How does the preparation and payment of full salary for striking workers within three working days after the signing of the agreement constitute a breach of agreement?” he questioned.
Further, he said, the agreement “speaks of “immediately released (salaries) upon both parties signing the Terms of Resumption agreement.” How can the UG Administration “immediately release” salaries that it has not prepared before the agreement was signed?”
“For the Unions to expect the Bursary to undertake salary computations and payments to striking workers on the first day of resumption (March 3rd, 2015) constitute a high level of efficiency that is unimaginable,” he added. The VC further hoped that the unions would demand similar levels of alacrity from its members who have yet to submit exams grades for examination papers written in December 2014. “The university Administration awaits the day, when the Unions will seek from its members the importance of meeting all University deadlines,” he said.
Opadeyi also pointed out that the ongoing salary negotiations are between the UG unions and the university negotiation team and not with the university administration. The administration’s signing of the ToR saw March 10th scheduled for the resumption of negotiations which was seven calendar days after the signing. However, the two sides met seven working days after the resumption as the university’s negotiation team comprises council members from both the private and public sectors who may have had pre-scheduled engagements. “Can we expect from the Unions the same level of timeliness in the performance of its duties to our students?” he asked.
The university’s administration wishes to assure all its staff that it is prepared and focused on ensuring that all the ToR are met both in spirit and in deed.
