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  • 1 year ago
Not backing down ! That's the message from the President of the West Indies Group of University Teachers, to the government.


The WIGUT President was interviewed on Morning Edition.


Dr. Indira Rampersad maintained that a two percent increase is unacceptable and the government must do better.
Transcript
00:00If the economy is bad, is that my fault? This is the question, Marlon. Is that Uyghurs fault?
00:07Is that the workers of the country's fault? Is that the fault of the people of this country?
00:12Who's managing the economy? Is it me? I am not the government.
00:17Dr Rampersad said that the annual funds spent on the University of the West Indies by the government
00:23has absolutely nothing to do with teachers' salaries.
00:27She said the two cannot be viewed in the same context.
00:30That is not money owed to Uyghur members. That is not money owed to ASAP staff.
00:36That is to run the campus. And by the way, I understand that the government is in the race of
00:42more than $1.5 billion with regard to student fees.
00:46I mean, students are going to be at the brunt of that soon if it is not paid.
00:51The Uyghur president chastised the government for the current state of labour negotiations in the country.
00:56She said workers have produced and it is unfair that the government is not willing to put forward a better offer.
01:03The government didn't settle wages for 10 years.
01:07So if you have a huge sum to pay now, whether it is Uyghur, whether it is UWTU, whether it is PSA,
01:13whether it is who, you came into power in 2015.
01:16You gave a promise that in August 7, 2015, you gave a promise that he is going to settle all outstanding negotiations.
01:23As they came into power, this was all campaign rhetoric, it would seem.
01:28Dr Rampersad acknowledged that not everyone is in support of Uyghur's actions.
01:33This is the history of trade unionism. This is nothing new.
01:37This is how trade unions seek to get what they want.
01:40I heard former principals talking about withholding grids.
01:43We had them, yes, we certainly had them shaking in their shoes.
01:47One of them even talked about what he went through. Yes, we have to do that.
01:52And those very principals today are benefiting from our negotiations with regard to the pensions they are receiving.
01:58Even they have benefits. They were Uyghur members and they benefited.
02:03Dr Rampersad said Uyghurs will continue to voice its concerns until an acceptable wage increase is offered to its members.
02:11Last week, Finance Minister Colin Mimbert stated that were the government to meet Uyghurs' demands,
02:17it would mean a back pay of $701 million, which taxpayers would have to bear.
02:23He said that is not going to happen.
02:27Aksha Galston, TV6 News.
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