UWI staff members showed solidarity by leaving their offices and gathering at the ‘3Ws Pavilion’ building to protest against the institution’s failure to provide promised pay increases.

Industrial action started at tertiary institution on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 when workers from several departments marched to the Administration Office demanding that delayed and adjusted salaries be paid.

The Barbados Workers Union (BWU), the representative body for the employees, received word that expectations were not met- that they had not received promised benefits, a tax-free one-time payment of BBD$1,500 and a six percent salary increase over two years, unlike other public sector workers.

The UWI staff reportedly are still awaiting their promised benefits that were made in Parliament ten months ago in March 2023.

A letter from the BWU to the UWI members stated; “We wish to inform you that further to our email of January 16, 2024, no response has been received from the University nor from the Ministry of Finance regarding the promised one-off payment and increase in salary.”

BWU General Secretary, Toni Moore, marched with workers today January 31 and also held discussions at the 3Ws Pavilion in discussing what is next in their  course of action.

Source: LoopNews