Georgetown : The resumption of duty by three University of Guyana lecturers, whose services ended in January, will be up for conciliation by the Ministry of Labour. This is according to a statement issued by the University which pointed out that the Ministry has been instrumental in brokering an agreement between the Administration, the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU).
In keeping with the Agreement the concerned parties will go to conciliation this week in an effort to resolve the matter involving the lecturers, the statement outlined. As part of the Agreement brokered by the Ministry university workers are required to refrain from industrial action guided by a detailed Terms of Resumption which outlines that: the unions will call off all forms of industrial actions of their members as of Monday; that there shall be no victimization or harassment by either side; that the status quo ante will prevail and that there shall be no break in service.
Also the parties will resume discussions at the bilateral level on a monthly basis for the next three months and thereafter on a mutually agreed basis to discuss matters of interest. According to the statement too, the Administration will agree to convene a meeting between the Unions and the negotiating team within one month of the submissions from the Unions of their Memorandum of Demands for workers within their respective bargaining units. The Terms of Resumption also details that should the parties fail to resolve their differences, the Ministry of Labour will conciliate in the matter. It was further pointed out that the Administration “shall work with the Ministries of Education and Finance to satisfy the applicable terms of the World Bank Loan in a speedy manner.”
Prior to the meetings at the Ministry of Labour which commenced last week Tuesday, Pro-Chancellor, Professor Prem Misir, met with Executives of the University of Guyana Staff Association, the University of Guyana Workers Union and the University of Guyana Student Society on two occasions and committed to working steadfastly towards the timely resolution of the issues they raised. A week later, the University Administration had a joint meeting with representatives of the three groups at which the parties discussed matters pertinent to the World Bank Loan, the Caribbean Development Grant to review the institution’s regulatory structure, its financial status, conditions of service, the infrastructure and unavailability of grades. Action was agreed on a number of issues some of which have already commenced, according to the statement.
“The University Administration has always been fully committed to achieving the aims stated when the University was established in 1963 – to provide a place of education, learning and research of a standard required and expected of a university of the highest standard, and to secure the advancement of knowledge and the diffusion and extension of arts, sciences and learning throughout Guyana,” the statement added.
The University Administration has also stated its commitment to working with staff, students and external stakeholders, who have an expressed desire to see the university continue to play a major role in the development of Guyana.
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