| – Agreement likely tomorrowFollowing on the heels of a call by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, for the Unions and Administration of the University of Guyana (UG) to put their egos aside in order to facilitate a resolution, the two sides yesterday met and signed an agreement.In a statement captioned “Light visible at the end of the tunnel” and signed by President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), Dr Mellissa Ifill, and University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU),Jerseys NFL Cheap, Mr Bruce Haynes, it was revealed that the Unions and the Administration met on February 28, 2015 and verbally agreed to sign two agreements.The agreements signed were for (1) Terms of Resumption and (2) an Interim Salary Increase.The meeting was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour and according to the Unions “produced what we believe to be the final versions of both agreements.”While the Unions were advised that the contents of both were endorsed by the Ministry of Finance and the University’s Negotiating Team, it was revealed that they were not signed since the newly-installed Pro-Chancellor, Bibi Shadick, was unavailable.UGWU President, Mr Bruce Haynes“We expect that the agreements will be signed on Monday March 2,NFL Jerseys China, 2015 by the Unions, the Vice Chancellor, the Pro Chancellor and a Ministry of Labour official. This will clear the way for us to resume duties and classes to recommence in accordance with the terms of the agreement,” detailed the Unions’ Presidents in the statement.Moreover, all staff members are invited to a general meeting in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre at 09:00 hours tomorrow (Monday March 2, 2015) during which “we will discuss the terms and implications of the agreements.”The past week marked five weeks of industrial action by the University, which was the result of a breakdown in negotiations between the Unions and the University’s Negotiating Team.The workers through their union,Nike NFL Jerseys China, during negotiations, had demanded a 60 per cent across the board increase along with other benefits and improved conditions. The Administration on the other hand had offered a five per cent increase for this year and 10 per cent per the following two years, an offer that was rejected by workers.The Unions had since countered that offer by proposing, at the minimum, a 25 per cent increase. But Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, instead made a decision to withdraw the University’s offer insisting that the workers return to work before a resumption of negotiations. His call was supported by the Ministry of Labour.The workers had therefore vowed to continue strike action until a reasonable interim offer be proposed to them.In fact,NFL Jerseys Cheap, Unions had suggested a minimum of 10 per cent increase. As per that suggestion the workers will be eligible for an interim 10 per cent increase in salaries payable from Janaury 1, 2015, across the board for all categories of staff, without prejudice to any across the board end-of-year Government payout.And based on the Terms of Resumption Agreement there shall be no victimization or harassment by either side – that is,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, no dismissals, no demotion,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, no transfer, no loss of leave entitlement, etc, and there shall be no break in service.Added to this, the Agreement outlines that there shall be no loss of pay for strike days and no loss of work for the University, even as it was noted that “mutually agreeable arrangements will be put in place for staff to work back the time of the duration of the strike in order to complete the backlog of work and to meet all University deadlines.”It was also detailed that all salaries withheld for strike action shall be immediately released upon both parties signing the Terms of Resumption agreement.Dr. Mellisa IfillThe Agreement states too that the parties will resume negotiations at the bi-lateral level within seven days of resumption of duties, and will first address allowances and other conditions of work in the memorandum of demands.The parties will then address the multi-year salary agreement and should the parties fail to resolve their differences by June 30, 2015,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, the Ministry of Labour will conciliate in the matter.Further it was noted that agreements reached on any individual item in the memorandum of demands shall be implemented within a reasonable time.However,Cheap NFL Jerseys, according to the Agreement, should the parties fail to reach an agreement at conciliation within seven days, the parties shall agree to go to arbitration, under the following conditions: That the arbitration panel will be tri-partite; The Ministry of Labour will appoint the Chair of the arbitration panel following consultation and agreement between the two parties; and, the other two members of the arbitration panel will be selected, one by each party.It was pointed that the status quo ante will prevail as per January 25, 2015 and outlined that all necessary facilities and materials must be made available for classroom instruction within four weeks of resumption of duties.As part of the Agreement too, the Administration will provide weekly progress reports to the UGSSA and the UGWU on the procurement, provision and installation of these facilities and materials. Further it was noted that the Administration shall immediately engage the Ministry of Labour to conduct a health and safety audit, and shall commence the implementation of recommendations within one month of presentation of the report.Also the UGSSA and UGWU will call off all forms of industrial action with a full resumption of work within 48 hours of signing the Terms of Resumption Agreement, even as the Administration brokers agreements with the management of the Guyana Revenue Authority, the National Insurance Scheme, Credit Unions and all other loan agencies paid through the University, to prevent penalties to staff members for outstanding payments.Copies of all such agreements are expected to be made available to the Unions based on the Agreement, which went on to point out that the Unions will call on its members to submit Mark-sheets for Semester I 2014-2015 within three days of full resumption of duties.Meanwhile, another important feature of the Agreement is set to be signed tomorrow, that will also cater to improvements in the teaching and learning environment. |
