Finance Minister Rejects Lecturers’ Demands for Salary Increases

Finance Minister Colm Imbert has rejected the demands of lecturers at the University of the West Indies (UWI) for salary increases, stating that the government will not fund backpay of over TT$700 million to the workers.

Imbert made the statement in Parliament on Friday, noting that the government will not impose a burden of backpay on the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago. He urged all parties to utilize the available dispute resolution procedure to settle the dispute.

The lecturers, who are seeking a 24 percent increase, have embarked on industrial action in support of their union’s demand for increased salaries. The West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) understands and empathizes deeply with the staff’s frustration, which stems from the decade-long delay in resolving salary negotiations.

The prolonged hardship and uncertainty are exacerbated by the rising cost of living in the post-COVID era, which has intensified financial pressures on all categories of staff. The lecturers began their two-day industrial action on Thursday, citing the lack of concrete responses or gains from management.

Imbert stated that the state funds the university with "hundreds of millions of dollars in subvention" and that any settlement of wages at UWI will place the responsibility on the government and taxpayers to fund this increase. He also brushed aside the opposition’s request that the government not intervene in the matter if the parties concerned have reached an agreement utilizing the dispute resolution procedure.

The minister noted that the government has offered a four percent salary adjustment to the public service, the protective services, and other trade unions, and that WIGUT has refused to accept the offer. He also highlighted that the university received a subvention of TT$517 million in the 2018-19 year, followed by TT$520 million in the next fiscal year, and TT$528 million in the 2020-21 year.

In conclusion, the government’s stance on the matter is clear: it will not fund backpay of over TT$700 million to the lecturers. The dispute resolution procedure must be utilized to settle the dispute, and the government will not intervene in the matter if the parties concerned have reached an agreement.

FAQs

What is the reason for the lecturers’ industrial action?
- The lecturers are seeking a 24 percent increase in salaries, which has been delayed for over a decade.
How much backpay are the lecturers seeking?
- Over TT$700 million as of March 2024.
What is the government’s stance on the matter?
- The government will not fund backpay of over TT$700 million to the lecturers and will utilize the dispute resolution procedure to settle the dispute.
What is the current subvention to the university?
- The university receives a subvention of "hundreds of millions of dollars" from the government.