UWI lecturers stand in solidarity for more salary

By Kimone Witter    

 

In what has been described as a show of solidarity, educators at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus gathered outside the main gate Monday morning to give support to the measures implemented by the Ministry of Finance in response to demands for a conclusion of wage negotiations.

 

President of West Indies Group of University Teachers in Jamaica, Professor Paul Brown, said the lecturers, clad in red, chanted their slogan of solidarity as part of the push for a speedy resolution to the compensation review.

 

Professor Brown explained why the union thought it necessary to stage Monday morning's event. 

 

"So members of the union are upset with...how things have progressed over the last several years as far as one, the delay in the compensation itself, and two, because of the disparity that now exists. So in terms of to ensure that that energy is best used, it is important that we harness that now to keep members engaged in a positive way that they will be a part of the push as necessary, to ensure that everything that needs to be done gets done," he reasoned.  

 

The West Indies Group of University Teachers in Jamaica indicated last week that its members were restive over a stalled compensation agreement.

 

Subsequently, the Finance Ministry instituted a tripartite committee to finalise two aspects of the educators' demands.

 

"We had asked for an interim statement and we had set that at 25 per cent. So that is part of the reason for the tripartite committee. So by the end of this month, that's next week, we will have a final determination where that is concerned. That would be in the next budget, in the upcoming budget, which will be tabled in March. And then the larger picture will be the start of the competition review for UWI because that was actually derailed over the last year," Professor Brown explained. 

 

WIGUT Jamaica is hoping that the Compensation Reform for UWI will lead to regional and internationally competitive salaries by June 30.