Administrative workers at the University of Technology Jamaica (UTech) are on a sickout, protesting against the lack of progress in the ongoing compensation review with the institution.
More than 200 workers called out sick on Monday. This is the second protest action by the workers in recent months.
Jeanette Grayson, president of the University of Technology Administrative Staff Association (UTASA), says despite numerous meetings, her association has been unable to get a definitive position from UTech’s management regarding where members of the administrative staff fall within the new government compensation structure.
“We have been operating on the past establishment which was from 1995 and it only recognizes 603 staff. Currently, the university has a complement of more than 1,300 staff. So, if the government does not recognize this current establishment that we are using, which we have not signed off on, then the staff who do not have post numbers, they will not be able to benefit from the public sector reform, ”she said.
She said the latest meeting held with university management in January did not give members any optimism that the institution is advocating for them.
Last November during the previous strike by workers, Grayson stressed that no administrative review has been conducted at the institution for the past 20 years, and with the compensation reform in the public sector, she believes staff at the institution will be at a disadvantage.
Adding that the administrative staff have been patient, Grayson said she is hoping to receive a favorable response from the university’s chancellor, or they will continue with their series of planned actions.
Grayson said the sick out is expected to last for two days.
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