Academic staff at UWI and UTech restive

By Racquel Porter  

 

 

Uncertainty is hanging over the start of the new academic year at two of Jamaica's universities, as academic staff have stepped up industrial action amid frustration over unresolved compensation and promotion matters.

 

Academic staff at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) and The University of the West Indies (UWI) have withdrawn services as they press the government to resolve outstanding issues.

 

Public Relations Officer of the University of Technology Academic Staff Union (UTASU), Dr. Tasheika Burris-Melville said the union is particularly concerned about settlement of the government's compensation package for the 2022-2025 period.

 

Dr. Burris-Melville said academic staff are also concerned about protracted delays in resolving academic promotions, which have been suspended since 2020.

 

"It's a critical matter because we're seeing where other public sector workers are now negotiating for 2025-2027 academic period and we are still waiting to get any word on this matter. And what compounds this issue is the fact that our compensation is indexed to that of the University of the West Indies," she noted.

 

Meanwhile, Professor Paul Brown, President of the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) Jamaica, said the union has been trying for months to get the government back to the negotiating table.

 

Professor Brown said WIGUT submitted a document to the Ministry of Finance in November 2025, following which representatives met with the ministry's Transformation and Implementation Unit (TIU) on June 1.

 

He said the union warned that members could not guarantee normal operations at UWI in Jamaica when the new academic year begins.

 

Professor Brown said the ministry was given until July 31 to respond and continue discussions, but subsequently the union was told that the review of the document would be completed by August 3.

 

However, Professor Brown said he was again told that he would be given a date August 10 for another meeting.

 

He said after consulting with members last Tuesday, the majority voted in favour of industrial action to pressure the government to resume negotiations.

 

"It's not rocket science. We have put some things on the table and I think the time that they would have had should have allowed for them to complete their analysis and to get back to us. Now, it might not be the full, you know, a resolution of all of the matters but at least we'd be advancing. But, you know, you cannot have things in abeyance and then expect that person's will say, well, okay, we see with you; give you another two weeks, give you another month. No. It has to stop somewhere and that is what we're saying," he complained.

 

Dr. Burris-Melville said not resolving the issues will affect exams and administrative functions.

 

"Not submitting any outstanding marks for courses or modules that are not completed. We will not engage in any meetings in preparation for the start of the new academic year. We will not have any involvement in student orientation activities. We will refrain from working outside of normal work hours. We will refrain from performing administrative functions, including the submission of reports, processing applications, scheduling lecturers and so on and so forth," she warned.

 

Professor Brown said he has informed students of the possible implications.