A RECENTLY formed University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) Special Committee has called on students of the institution to “apply pressure” to both the University’s administration and the staff, in an attempt to force a resumption of classes.This call comes at a time when the two bodies are deadlocked following a series of collapsed negotiations.

The UG Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the UG Workers Union (UGWU) embarked on an industrial action on January 26, the day the university was scheduled to reopen. According to the combined unions, the industrial action came as a response by the staff to the imposition of a workload policy by the administration, a refusal to increase salaries by 60 per cent, and the administration’s refusal to recognise the UGSSA as an official body.

However, despite a few attempts to recommence a negotiation process, the efforts proved futile as the two bodies could not come to a compromise, leaving the resumption of classes in limbo.

Against this backdrop, the Students Society has made several calls — which have all fallen on deaf ears — for the immediate resumption of classes.

As a result, the UGSS Executive sought to establish a Special Committee with the mandate to achieve 100 per cent class resumption as soon as possible.
The 10-member committee met last week, and two proposals of the same nature were presented to both the administration and staff members. The first proposal was detailed, “The return to normalcy for a week of negotiations from Monday to Friday. If by Friday there is no agreement, the parties to the labour dispute should expect the intervention of the Ministry of Labour through the mechanism of conciliation, pursuant to the statement of the Minister of Labour.”

The combined unions responded by noting that if an interim offer is made by the Administration, which the Unions are willing to “entertain”, they would agree to return to the students’ proposal.

The administration also responded by saying that, due to its not reviewing the agenda, it was unable to discuss the proposal made. However, it is aware of the Union’s position, and openly recognises the common ground between both parties to the resumption of classes, as there is a burden being placed on students.

The second proposal entailed: “Close the University for one week in order to facilitate negotiations between unions and the administration for the primary reason of facilitating negotiations between unions and administration, as well as to reduce the level of student disenfranchisement and inconvenience.”

The administration responded this time by saying it believes that both proposals “have merit”, but no single party in the dispute has full control over all the factors in order to produce a “coherent package”, and thereby a solution to the problem at hand. The administration then stated that, once the agenda has been perused, a response would be made.

The Unions, then represented by Dr. Thomas Singh, Head of the Economics Department, recognised the maturity shown by the student body, and expressed astonishment at the VC’s absence. Dr Singh said he believes that the proceeding of “courses in a disjoint fashion” not only hinders learning, but also has implications on current efficiency and future finance.

He favoured the second proposal.
As such, the Special Committee, driven by the UGSS vehicle, made its call for the student population to “apply pressure” to both parties in order to achieve a return to the negotiating table and class normalcy.

“This will be done by pleading the case for the students in the media. Further, the students will plead their case to international organisations for intervention”, the committee informed students.