DISCUSSIONS are still ongoing with the tripartite body of the University of Guyana (UG) administration, its workers’ union and the UG council, as a resolution is being sought over the wage increase impasse.

On Monday, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UG, Paulette Paul, told the Guyana Chronicle that “talks are ongoing” between the unions and the administration, following the resumption of negotiations brokered by the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Major General (retired), Joe Singh.

Paul did not divulge what decisions have or have not been made so far. She only said: “What will happen is that we will have a joint statement when the matter is concluded.”
The University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) began protesting at the Turkeyen Campus recently, with members calling for a financial audit to be done at the institution.

They claimed that funds are being misappropriated, instead of being used to develop the teaching space. The protest was also undertaken because the unions did not accept the three per cent salary increase for UA (academic) staff, and a four per cent increase for UB (support) staff, which was imposed last November and retroactive to January 1, 2018.
The university had stated that it cannot afford further increases and had asked the unions to act responsibly and in the best interest of the students.

The unions, alongside representatives of the UG administration, met with Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, who had convened a conciliation meeting, on February 12, with the bodies in light of the impasse over negotiations of wages and salaries for 2018. The unions were, however, displeased with that conciliation meeting. Subsequent to that, Major Singh had managed to broker the resumption of the talks between the administration and unions. The unions met with the UG council and members of the administration, but this engagement did not yield positive results. All parties, however, committed to continuing talks.

On Monday, President of the UGSSA, Dr Jewel Thomas confirmed that “talks are ongoing” but also did not comment on the nature of discussions. She shared however that the council will meet on Thursday of this week and subsequent to that, the bodies should be able to issue a joint statement.