Semester One for the 2015-2016 academic year at UWI St Augustine Campus has begun with more excitement than expected. Yesterday, administrative staff protested, feverishly blocking the entrance to Lloyd Brathwaite Student Administration Building.
The UWI staff who are also OWTU members went on strike in the midst of the registration process for the new semester for continuing and new students.
Staff members indicated this strike was due to what they claim is the Government's paying of millions to UWI lecturers in salary raises and back pay but has granted no raise of pay for administrative staff among others.
New and continuing students were seen in long lines awaiting assistance but no staff were on duty. This caused a major back-up and frustration among students who were seeking assistance or coming to drop off their fee sheets and fee receipts along with Gate forms for this new academic year.
No help was offered, leaving new students along with their parents confused and uncertain as to what to do next as from September 5, 2015 there is a late fee of $200 attached to late registration. This strike is said to be continuing until September 23.
Is this a sign of more strikes to come? Has disruption of critical UWI events and processes become a norm? This is putting added stress on us and our academic workload hasn't even started yet. This is what we have to face.
This is becoming unbearable and has the potential to disrupt our learning at said tertiary institution.
Tenisha Sylvester
UWI Student