UG Administration, Workers’ Union sign agreement to call off strike action -effective February 27

Georgetown : The University of Guyana (UG) and its Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the UG Workers’ Union (UGWU) signed an agreement bringing to an end a three-day planned strike action. Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul in addressing the parties, stated that the agreement which paves the way for normalcy to prevail on campus; will also see the Administration working with the Ministries of Finance and Education to ‘satisfy the applicable terms of the World Bank loan in a speedy manner’.

 

He encouraged the parties to honour the clauses which govern the agreement and committed on the part of the Labour Ministry, to ensure that the agreement is not breached. “I urge you all to continue to negotiate and iron out issues which can arise in the future, because if an industrial relations issue is not rectified, it can be blown out of proportion,” he said.
 

He reminded that the Ministry functions to ensure that workers’ rights are not undermined and to ensure that labour laws are upheld. He lauded the move by the two parties in agreeing to reach an agreement in a tranquil manner. Over the past weeks, several strike actions were embarked upon by lecturers; some students and, members of the UGWU, and Members of the Opposition have used the issue to add sparks to an already burning situation.
           
Meanwhile, Bruce Haynes, President of the UGWU, while lauding the move, said that the situation has helped everyone to realise that collaboration is much needed in the future. The agreement caters for all forms of industrial action coming to end, by 07:00 am February 27, 2012, that there will be no victimization or harassment by either side, that there will be a resumption of discussions at the bilateral level on a monthly basis on matters of interest and, the Labour Ministry will conciliate in the matter of the termination of three lecturers within a week of full resumption of work.