Day 263 | Seasons Greetings w Gratitude + 2019 Highlights!
Dear Friends,
Thank you very much for choosing throughout 2019 to stand with those who are concerned and vigilant about the welfare and continued advancement of our national University, the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica). 263 days have passed since we submitted our petition in April, 2019.
As we close out 2019, I wish for you and your family the very best, for a safe and satisfying Christmas and a hope-filled, vibrant, start to New Year 2020.
In addition, I invite you to continue to patiently stand with us in holding our Government of Jamaica accountable to
“Increase the Subvention to the University of Technology, Jamaica, Commensurate with Need”
Below I share relevant 2019 highlights
WHY PETITION OUR GOVERNMENT ABOUT UTech, JAMAICA ON MARCH 9th, 2019?
“It is a Government institution established by an Act of Parliament. The University is facing financial challenges. An appropriate increase in the annual subvention from the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) can assist in alleviating these financial challenges.
The current subvention from the GOJ to UTech, Jamaica is approximately J$2.1 billion annually. It is calculated based on a staff size of 608 members. However, based on the growth of the University over the past two decades, currently the size of the University’s staff is 1,440 members. The University, therefore, faces difficulties funding its staff, among other items. It has appealed to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to assist in efforts to improve its financial position, by increasing the subvention from approximately J$2.1 billion to approximately J$4.97 billion.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20190222/utech-wants-5b-university-awaiting-sign-staff-numbers - February 22, 2019
Joint Union Protests
The historical underfunding of UTech, Jamaica by successive Governments resulted in an unprecedented level of unity among all 4 unions of the University. On February 20th, 2019 the Students Union, and the 3 staff unions – Academic, Administrative and Technical-Ancillary hosted a joint protest to highlight the need for adequate subvention from our Government of Jamaica.
Whether the subvention will be increased by the GOJ, and/or the timeline for a decision on the matter, is unclear. (See official petition narrative for full details)
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2019 HIGHLIGHTS
- March 9th, 2019 – We launched our Petition to the Government of Jamaica “Increase the Subvention to the University of Technology, Jamaica, Commensurate with Need”
- March 21, 2019 – Minister of Education Youth and Information, to whom our Petition was addressed, forced to resign from the Government
https://www.change.org/p/government-of-jamaica-increase-the-subvention-to-the-university-of-technology-jamaica-commensurate-with-need/u/24320506
-April 4, 2019 – Together we attracted 15,000 signatories in 26 days and met the Government of Jamaica’s petition guidelines as stated on their website, “If you gather 15,000 signatures in 40 days, we’ll review your petition, and if it complies with agreed standards, the Office of the Prime Minister will issue an official response.”
https://opm.gov.jm/participate/jamaica-house-petition/
-April 5, 2019 – Our petition and cover letter were formally submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information.
https://www.change.org/p/government-of-jamaica-increase-the-subvention-to-the-university-of-technology-jamaica-commensurate-with-need/u/24385958
-April 29th, 2019 – Based on the non-response from the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Education, Youth & Information, follow up done with the Office of the Prime Minister to verify receipt of our Petition.
https://www.change.org/p/government-of-jamaica-increase-the-subvention-to-the-university-of-technology-jamaica-commensurate-with-need/u/24488808
-May 1st, 2019 – Academic Staff Union again engaged in protest action, effective 30th April, 2019, “until the salary adjustment agreed to in the 2015/2017 Head of Agreement (HOA) and signed by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and the management of the University is implemented." The Management of the University and the Academic Staff Union (UTASU) were subsequently invited to a May 10th, 2019 Subvention meeting with the Government of Jamaica.
https://www.change.org/p/government-of-jamaica-increase-the-subvention-to-the-university-of-technology-jamaica-commensurate-with-need/u/24493633
-May 11th, 2019 – Unofficial word from the Government hosted Subvention meeting with UTech Jamaica’s Management and the Academic Union (UTASU), indicates that the Government agreed to an adjustment in the subvention. The amount and terms of the adjustment--undisclosed.
https://www.change.org/p/government-of-jamaica-increase-the-subvention-to-the-university-of-technology-jamaica-commensurate-with-need/u/24539990
-July 22, 2019 – Despite no official announcement on the May 10th 2019 Government Subvention meeting with UTech, Jamaica’s Management and Academic Staff Union (UTASU), unofficial word is that based on the meeting, Academic Staff expect the first of several retroactive payments in relation to the salary adjustment agreed to in the 2015/2017 Head of Agreement (HOA).
-July 29, 2019 – Good News! The Academic Staff indicate increased payment in their July 2019 salaries. This would represent the 1st of 3 retroactive payments scheduled to occur July 2019 – May 2020, in relation to the salary adjustment agreed to in the 2015/2017 Head of Agreement (HOA). However, still no official announcement from the Government or UTech, Jamaica’s Management on decisions arising from the May 10th 2019 Subvention Meeting.
https://www.change.org/p/government-of-jamaica-increase-the-subvention-to-the-university-of-technology-jamaica-commensurate-with-need/u/24878226
-August 26, 2019 – News headlines indicate that “UTech Gets Increased Subvention.” Recall UTech, Jamaica requested an increase in subvention from approximately $2B to approximately $5B (+3B). The news quotes the University’s President as follows: “President of the University of Technology (UTech) Stephen Vasciannie has reported that Government subvention to the tertiary institution has increased. “Our subvention has traditionally been at approximately $2 billion. Over the last two months, we have received a commitment from the Government that they will extend it by $1 billion in respect of this year,” Vasciannie revealed.” No details were provided as to whether the $1billion represented the wage bill for Academic Staff only, or whether the additional $1b would be guaranteed going forward in future years.
https://www.change.org/p/government-of-jamaica-increase-the-subvention-to-the-university-of-technology-jamaica-commensurate-with-need/u/24995102
-October 25, 2019 – More strike action by UTech, Jamaica Academic Staff Union (UTASU). In what turned out to be perhaps the longest strike (Octo 25 – Nov 6, 2019) in the history of the University, UTASU members initiated protest action in response to the non-payment of the 2nd scheduled retroactive payment per the 2015/2017 Head of Agreement (HOA), as well as agreement post the May 10th, 2019 meeting. The Management indicated in response, that the University had not yet received the relevant sum from the Government of Jamaica, and so, were not in a position to make the retroactive payment.
https://www.change.org/p/government-of-jamaica-increase-the-subvention-to-the-university-of-technology-jamaica-commensurate-with-need/u/25288783
-November 6, 2019 – Academic Staff Union Members (UTASU) end strike. Negotiations broke down when they rejected inadequate offers from the Ministry of Education & Information, as well the University’s Management. The matter was then referred to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for their mediation and a positive way forward was agreed to. The news cites the view of the UTASU Executive as follows “In a statement last night, UTASU said the move is to give the management of the university time to secure additional funding towards the payment of retroactive sums owed to academic staff for the period 2018/9 and to outline a firm schedule of payment.” The next meeting at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to formalize the agreement is scheduled for Nov 11, 2019.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20191106/utech-academic-staff-end-strike-now
- November 12, 2019 – We have gleaned that in honour of the return to work by Academic Staff, the following new payment schedules have been agreed to:
> For 2018/19 payment which was due in October 2019 - 80% due Nov 2019 and 20% due April 2020
>For 2015 through 2018 payments – The new payment schedule to be shared with UTASU by Jan 2020
> Min of Labour to monitor implementation of abovementioned agreement
-November 20th, 2019 – UTech, Jamaica’s President will not renew his contract when it expires at the end of the year. The Council of UTech, Jamaica announced that Prof. Stephen Vasciannie for personal and professional reasons has opted not to renew his contract when it expires on December 31st, 2019.
https://utechalumni.wordpress.com/2019/11/20/utech-jamaica-news-prof-stephen-vasciannie-cd-president-utech-jamaica-will-not-renew-his-contract-which-expires-31st-december-2019/
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Friends, you have patiently and with commitment waded through our troubled waters with us in the UTech, Jamaica Community (staff, students, alumni and friends) and we cannot thank you enough.
Please continue to support us.
*****Merry Christmas to You and Your Loved Ones!***
~Cheryll Messam
cheryllrm@yahoo.com
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*Our petition began on March 9th, 2019 and was submitted to the Government of Jamaica on April 4, 2019. It has been 263 days!
* To date 18,395 of us worldwide have united in support of #moresubvention4utechja.
*We welcome your continued sharing of the petition while this remains an outstanding matter.
*We welcome your prayers while this remains an outstanding matter.
* Our struggle continues...