Finally, there's a truce between the senior management of the University of Belize and the UB Faculty and Staff Union.
This evening, they sent out a joint release notifying the public that they have agreed quote, "to a number of measures to address the University's financial shortfall in these challenging times. The agreement that was signed on [last] Friday had the blessings of the Board of Trustees of the University of Belize." End quote.
Engagement, negotiations and discussions on this agreement occurred over a period of 3 months, and it included a meeting with the Ministry of Labour, which was chaired by Labour Minister Dr Carla Barnett.
This signed agreement covered several areas that affect both the university and its employees. It includes tiered cuts in salaries from 22% to 5%, an increment freeze for the financial year, a voluntary separation program, and the restructuring of certain areas of the University's operation. The restructuring focuses especially those parts of the university operations that have been closed during the pandemic, and those that have been reduced significantly because of the migration to online teaching, and the reduction student population for this year.
The two sides agreed to other subsidiary areas such as the ability to work from home with a technology grant, and an interest-free loan to eligible employees for the procurement of internet access and a computer to facilitate it.
The joint press release ends by stating, quote, "The University and the UBFSU agreed that in six months' time the state of the University's finances will be reviewed with a view to examining the feasibility of returning salaries to or near to their previous levels." End quote.
