PAULA LINDO AND ENRIQUE RUPERT
West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) president Dr Indira Rampersad said over 20,000 exam marks have not been submitted as the lecturers continue to protest an increase in their salaries, which are currently at 2014 levels.
Speaking to Newsday on January 15, Rampersad said the union has ramped up its protest action. In December 2024 the members staged a blackout on the last day of classes. Rampersad said the protest would continue into the new semester.
“Teaching starts on January 20. The marks were due on January 7, but 20,000 marks were not submitted.
"We think our action is going to have the desired effect of a speedy solution and a reasonable settlement as soon as possible. We have been waiting since 2014.
“The Finance Minister met with the UWI principal on December 11, but he wants more information. We think we provided all the information required in our March 2024 revised proposal.”
Rampersad said the union would ramp up its action until it got a remit commensurate with that of public officials in the government, in keeping with the Salaries Review Commission recommendations.
“We are the pre-eminent tertiary institution in the Caribbean, our members are among the most qualified in the region and our contribution to education, to knowledge. The value it brings is immeasurable and invaluable and therefore we think we deserve an increase.
"The two per cent, two per cent cannot continue for university employees. These are academic, senior administrative and professional staff.”
She said the union would meet with its members to strategise on further measures on January 17.
“The action is alive and kicking. We are not going to relent. Our motto is, we will never surrender in the face of injustice and we think it is a grave injustice for our members to be on 2014 salaries in 2025.”
In a letter to its members, the union thanked those who had not submitted marks. It called on members not to participate in activities going forward.
“You would be receiving communication from your heads of departments/deans/directors/supervisors and the examination section to undertake academic advising, attend examination meetings and submit marks for Semester I. WIGUT does not expect you to buckle and jump to these requests! Stand tall and stay strong! Never surrender in the face of injustice! They can request but they cannot force, threaten, intimidate nor victimise you to comply!”
The union said members should grade exam scripts but not enter them into the university’s system; not carry out office hours nor participate in examination or other meetings; and shut down campus departments, centres and institutes and other activities.
“Non-removal of any holds on students' accounts. No exceptions! No responses to facilitators, instructors, tutors and students. No revenue-generation consultancies, no innovation, entrepreneurship and grant-funding initiatives, no support from learning support staff. No overrides of any kind or assistance with registration issues.
“Get re
