The University of the West Indies is calling on Government and the West Indies Group of University Teachers to move forward productively to settle wage talks.

Today, UWI lecturers planned a march through the St Augustine campus as part of a demonstration dubbed “Tempestuous Thursday”.

They say lecturers continue to live on 2014 salaries and are concerned by the lack of action regarding a revised proposal submitted in March this year.

The University has since issued a statement saying, “For over 2 years, Management has been following up diligently on outstanding proposals. We have been encouraged by positive assurances in the national Budget and in meetings. However, as the teaching term concludes and examinations begin, the lack of concrete responses, or gains have heightened concerns. The anguish is deepened because both Cave Hill, Barbados and Mona, Jamaica, which began negotiations long after St. Augustine, have concluded negotiations satisfactorily and received generous increases.”

The statement also says, “St. Augustine staff remains the poorest in the UWIverse. The result is increasing attrition of staff and increased difficulty to attract quality staff. Further, the Campus Management’s options are limited, given that Government pays salaries and as is well known, our own acute financial crisis, exacerbated by huge debts owed to us and decreased subventions.”

The University says it remains steadfast in its commitment to dialogue with the Government, and is urging all parties to move this process forward productively and swiftly, in order to benefit the lecturers and maintain stability for students.