The academic and senior administrative staff at the Mona Campus, of the University of the West Indies have been challenged to put improvement of their conditions of employment high on the agenda. The challenge has come from newly elected President of WIGUT, the West Indies Group of University Teachers, Dr Derrick Deslandes. Addressing the union’s membership at the annual general meeting this week, Dr Deslandes noted that a union is only as strong as its membership. He reminded the members that the rapid decline in salaries, and the loss of institutional memory are areas of serious concern for the union.
Dr Deslandes pointed out the challenges related to the Memorandum of Understanding and the impact these can have on the service that the university delivers. He called on the membership of the union to seriously consider the union’s interest and decide what the kind of university it wants.