The West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) says it intends to continue protest action throughout the semester in support of the ongoing salary dispute with the authorities.
On the first day of the new semester, WIGUT members marched through the university compound warning that there would be a withholding of students’ grades if there was no resolution to the 24 percent salary increase being demanded.
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Last November, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said that WIGUT’s demand for the salary increase with back pay amounting to TT$701 million (one TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) was unsustainable as it would place a significant burden on taxpayers.
The union has rejected the government’s offer of a two percent salary increase for the 2015-2017 period, arguing that members were still earning 2014 wages.
WIGUT says it now plans to shut down all system operations and continue withholding grades and that its members will engage in Whitewash Week from January 27-31.
“This is a week of rest and reflection. During the entire day, you should not answer your desk phones nor emails,” WIGUT said, adding that February 3-7 will be blackout week.
“We expect a complete blackout this week. There should be a complete shutdown of all system operations, faculties, departments, principal’s/deputy principal’s office; bursary, registry, student services, library, Campus Information Technology Services, Centre for Language Learning, Student Life and Development Department, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, Institute for Gender and Development Studies, Institute of International Relations, ROCOA research, field station, projects office, administration, labs, book store, and all others.” (CMC)
