UG staff protest for payment of salaries; Lawsuit filed

By Fareeza Haniff

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Several employees of the University of Guyana (UG) staged a picketing exercise on Friday morning (March 21) demanding that they be paid forthwith.

While the University’s Vice Chancellor (VC), Dr. Jacob Opadeyi was signing grants to conduct LCDS related studies, the UG Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) were protesting outside.

Vice President of the UGSSA, Dr. Melissa Ifill told iNews (www.inewsguyana.com) that salaries were due to be paid on Thursday, March 20 but to date, this has not been done.

According to her, this behaviour by the University has been an ongoing one, while the VC feigns ignorance to the issue.

“This is not the first time it has happened, it is happening continuously, every month, the workers are entirely fed up and we are demanding that we are paid on time,” Dr. Ifill said.

The majority of employees affected include academic and non academic staff. The employees are also picketing over non – payment of allowances, NIS and GRA contributions.

“It is causing workers a lot of stress and grief and this must stop. The VC is earning substantial sum, in addition he is earning consultancy outside of the University and he must govern this place properly or else he should go.”

Dr Ifill noted that the UGSSA and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWA) are in the process of filing a lawsuit against the University for immediate payment of their salaries.