“Full blown strike” at UG from Monday

Last Updated on Friday, 6 February 2015, 16:49 by GxMedia

University of Guyana (UG) workers on Friday decided to escalate their sit-in strike to a “full blown”  three-day strike from Monday, even as their unions seek the intervention of the Labour Ministry and President Donald Ramotar.

The move to escalate industrial action followed Thursday night’s formal withdrawal of a pay-hike offer and the scrapping of negotiations unless the workers first resume duty.

President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association Dr. Melissa Ifill told workers at a meeting in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT) that they would be expected to converge at the institution’s main gate Monday morning.

Ifill took on board the suggestions by workers to request conciliation through the Chief Labour Officer, intensify industrial action and embark on a public awareness campaign to explain the demand for a 60 to 75 percent increase in wages and salaries.

UGSSA Secretary, Dr. Patsy Francis and other staff members emphasized the importance of not giving up the struggle at this stage or they would lose both wage deductions and a just pay hike.

Lecturer, Eric Phillips reiterated that in the absence of a national budget, the Vice Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi and senior administrators could not offer a pay increase, and so the best option is to take their grievance to the Guyanese leader.