| The Guyana Trade Union Congress has taken umbrage at a letter written by the UG Vice-Chancellor, Professsor Lawrence Carrington to senior UG academic, Dr. Patsy Francis over the present industrial turmoil at the Turkeyen campus.In a press statement, the GTUC General-Secretary, Lincoln Lewis observed that, “The continued impasse at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, questions the capacity of institutions to address and resolve issues at this critical juncture of our nation’s development. The recent letter by Vice Chancellor, Professor Lawrence Carrington,NBA Jerseys From China, purportedly requesting an apology from the President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), Dr. Patsy Francis is a departure from the rules of engagement in industrial relations principles and ought to be revisited.”It is alleged that Dr. Francis and others were engaged in what the Vice Chancellor referred to as “unbecoming behaviour.”The letter went on to state that Dr. Francis and other staff members abused PPP’s UG Council Member, Mrs. Indra Chandrapal, and she has been asked by the Vice Chancellor to issue an apology to the official who represents her party on the UG Council.The GTUC went on to state; “Understandably, while the Vice Chancellor has an interest in maintaining cordial relations among the staff,Nike Schuhe Neu Damen, Council members and students, in dealing with this matter it has to be resolved in keeping with due process. Before any action can be taken against the accused and/ or guilt apportioned thereby warranting an apology, an investigation has to first be conducted. In the process, the right to be heard must be respected for Dr. Francis and the other accused. It is important to note, Dr. Francis at the time of the accusation was engaged in industrial action and wearing the hat of a trade unionist. Under this rule of engagement, the employer has no authority over her conduct, since she was not executing a task on behalf of the employer and thereby operating free from UG’s management decisions and influences. Under the industrial relations principles,Cheap Jerseys, no management of any institution can discipline an employee for work or activities conducted on behalf of the union, because it infringes on the individual’s right to freedom of association and collective bargaining in advancing their members’ wellbeing.”The GTUC is of the opinion that if the University administration has a concern with the Trade Unionist’s conduct or how the Union conducts its business, there are procedures outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement to address such matters. Lewis asserts that it entails lodging a complaint under the Grievance Procedure and the parties meeting to resolve their differences. He went on to observe that failure to adhere to these guidelines can be construed as an attack on Labour’s independence and the right of the workers and their representative to pursue just cause without interference by the employer.In a direct comment on the UG Chancellor, Professor Compton Bourne, Lewis remarked that “Bourne can no longer remain silent when by statue his is the responsibility to lead the University into productive life, including having systems activated to address and resolve differences. He has to be mindful that as he continues to be silent, his silence is not interpreted that he is awaiting instructions external to the university before he executes his statutory obligations. Any failure by the university administration to resolve the impasse and allowing the politicians, the President included, to find a solution in this case, will confirm the allegations that the termination of the contracts of Mr. Freddie Kissoon and others is political. The Chancellor has to intervene to disabuse perception he is not acting on his own or that he supports the transgressions taking place,Cheap NHL Jerseys, moreso given the PPP Council Members’ statement of what led to the contract termination and who voted in favour of,China NFL Jerseys, the denial of supporting said vote by Duane Edwards,Diego Maradona Jersey, President of the University Students Society, and other conflicting reports for the reason (s) of the termination.”The GTUC contends that there are other issues the university unions- University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and UGSSA- want addressed and they should be given equal attention in keeping with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and their Constitutional right to be involved in decision-making that impacts their wellbeing.”The GTUC General Secretary is of the view that unprecedented fear has gripped and paralyzed the nation within recent years “causing many to remain silent, execute actions they know in free society will be questioned, allow their rights and that of others to be trampled, or principles, rules and procedures forfeited in order to survive or maintain ‘peace’. This approach will not and cannot guarantee or bring peace, it only festers the problem and entrenches violations and tyranny, because peace is premised on justice.” |
