Industrial action at the University of Guyana (UG) is set to commence on Monday. This is according to a joint statement issued by the UG workers’ unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU).The statement outlines that both Unions have notified Vice Chancellor,Cheap Jerseys From China, Professor Jacob Opadeyi,Cheap NHL Jerseys Online, of the impending industrial action at the University; and went on to advise staff that “the University will be on a sit-in strike from Monday January 26 to Wednesday January 28, 2015.”‘A sit-in’ is a form of industrial action` where employees occupy their assigned positions/offices but refuse to work or perform assigned tasks. This therefore means that staffers, including lecturers, are expected to be present on campus at their desks or in the classrooms, but?will not be engaged in teaching and/or providing services.This therefore means that classes at the tertiary institution will be disrupted.The Unions’ statement that was issued yesterday, also served as a means of notifying that the strike action was one that was based upon a decision taken by staff at a joint union meeting on Monday January 19th, to proceed on industrial action, if there was no positive response to a number of demands outlined by the Unions.“Colleagues I know that none of us takes this action lightly. We are aware of the possible implications of our actions on our students and the University as a whole. Our aim is not to make the students or the University suffer. We are encouraged by public statements that indicate some support for our cause from the UG student leaders. Please help our students to understand that we are simply insisting on better standards and conditions at the University which will be beneficial to them as well,NFL Jerseys From China,” the joint statement highlighted.The statement, which was signed by Vice President of the UGSSA, Dr. Melissa Ifill and President of UGWU, Bruce Haynes, said that “we have been suffering for a long time from starvation wages and an extremely poor and oftentimes dangerous working environment.”Notwithstanding the fact, that staffers are already grossly underpaid for the work they are already tasked with, it was noted that they are now experiencing a dictatorial administration that seeks to impose even more work and duties. “We have acted in good faith and sought to negotiate with the Administration since May 2012. Just when we appeared to be making slow but somewhat promising progress in our wages and salaries negotiations, the Council intervened,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, cancelled a scheduled negotiation meeting and halted the process on the grounds that no remit was given and questioning the credentials of the UGSSA [when the administration was directly responsible for our non-certification],Wholesale China Jerseys,” added the Unions’ statement.This tactic has moreover been described as “simply the latest of a myriad number of excuses we have been given over the past 30 months. It is time we said, ‘enough’!As such, the Unions are calling on all staff members to join in the industrial action as any benefits derived from this process, will be received by all.“Please join us on Monday January 26th between 12-1pm in the Senior Common Room (SCR) as we weigh our options and decide on the way forward. Please be assured that the executives of the two Unions will not embark upon any action without your support and guidance,” the Unions have assured.Attempts to contact the Vice Chancellor yesterday regarding the decision taken by the Unions were futile. However, Professor Opadeyi had earlier this week said that he wasn’t aware of any resolution between the Unions and the University Administration, even after the Unions had threatened industrial action following collapsed salary and other benefit negotiations.Because of this development, the unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) – in a strongly worded statement last week said that “we must be prepared to take other drastic steps including shutting the University down if necessary.” The Unions are advocating for a hike in wages and salaries and improvement of other benefits.In a previously publicized statement the Unions disclosed that the Vice Chancellor in a formal response to the Unions’ demands is “woefully inadequate, takes matters no closer to a solution and has therefore been rejected.”It was pointed out too, that contrary to the statement attributed to Professor Opadeyi by an online publication,?”NO?concrete salaries and benefits proposal to any category of worker was offered by