UG workers protest Office of the President

 

By Jomo Paul

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Scores of University of Guyana workers including lecturers converged on the Office of the President on Vlissingen Road shortly after 12:00hrs on Thursday, February 05, protesting for better salaries at the institution.

The protesting workers, which numbered in the hundreds, stood in front of the Office of the President calling for an intervention from the government. The workers made it clear that the current 5% being offered was more than inadequate.

UG staff members have been on strike since last week calling for a complete review of their payment system and a 60% increase across the board salary increase which would be effective immediately.

However, UG administrators have only been able to offer the workers a 5% increase along with some fringe benefits.

The University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) have since jointly responded with a proposal that is yet to be deliberated.

That proposal is asking for a 25% initial increase and 25% in 2016 and 2017. This represents a significant decrease from the workers’ initial demands of the administration; however there is still some doubt as to whether it will be met.

Officials had said that UG would need $1.8B to fund a 60% increase in salaries. The UG student representative body is expected to mediate a negotiation tomorrow when the two sides meet again for further deliberations.

Should a consensus be met coming out of that meeting, UG is expected to reopen its doors on Monday February 9.