THE doors of Guyana’s premier tertiary institution, the University of Guyana (UG), were forced to be closed following unmet demands made by the staff and students over the last two weeks. Initially, the semester was slated to re-open on Monday, January 26, 2015 with all campus activities taking immediate effect. However, a threatened “industrial action” by the UG Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the UG Workers Union (UGWU) took effect on the day the institution was scheduled to re-open.

According to reports from the President of the UGSSA, Dr. Melissa Ifill, a workload policy was imposed on the staff by the administration which now requires the staff to work additional hours without an increase in salary.
SALARY HIKE REQUEST

Additionally, she noted that the staff made a demand for 60 percent increase in salaries, recognition of the UGSSA as an official body, by the administration, and a

retraction of the workload policy.

The administration refused, however, to act upon these demands which subsequently led to a collapse in the negotiation process between the combined unions and the administration. As such, the industrial action which entailed a ‘sit-in’ strike by the staff took effect on Monday, January 26, 2015.

This was then followed by actions by the students to drape a UG billboard with a cloth which read: “Respect our education #UGRevolution”. A vigil was then hosted the following Friday evening by the student body, supported by the staff where they commemorated “a dying university”.
Vice Chancellor (VC), Professor Jacob Opadeyi had assured both the student body and the staff through a statement that on Monday last, he would avail himself on campus to address concerns of both the students and the staff.
A no-show by the VC greeted the over 500 students who turned up for the meeting on Monday morning accompanied by scores of staff members in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT).
There the Deputy VC made a presentation on behalf of Opadeyi, which was not well received by the student body.
According to her, Opadeyi had been admitted to the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) where he was receiving medical treatment, which prevented him from being present at the meeting.
However, in a plot twist yesterday (Tuesday), the actions by the students and staff continued as the administration yet again failed to address their concerns. This time, the staff, supported by the student body, barred the main entrance of the university with pallets, wooden barricades and chains, which prevented vehicles from entering the compound.
‘VC’ IN PICKETING EXERCISE
Surprisingly, the Vice Chancellor also made his appearance, supported by his daughter, a medical student and a UG staff member. The trio led a picketing exercise on First Street, UG Road, which was not well received by students.
Opadeyi then made his way into the compound, where he spent some time and then left.
The barring of the entrance continued until 12:00 pm when students disbursed and staff made their way into the campus to continue their ‘sit-in’ strike.
President of the UG Student’s Society (UGSS), Joshua Griffith related that the students are protesting for basic improvements at the institution. These include hygienic washrooms, installation of lights, regular weeding of the compound and basic classroom facilities such as chalk and markers.
“It is not unreasonable for us to demand these things…we have paid a facility fee which calls for basic demands to be met,” Griffith said repeatedly.
It was also hinted by President of the UGWU that the action by the staff and students will continue today with a protest in front of the Office of the President.

(By Ravin Singh)