UTech, UWI academic staff strike over pay, promotions

Academic staff at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) and The University of the West Indies (UWI) have initiated industrial action due to mounting frustration over unresolved compensation issues and a prolonged suspension of an ordinance governing academic promotions.

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the union’s action stems from two outstanding matters. The first is Ordinance 1999-16, which deals with academic promotion. According to Burris-Melville, the ordinance has remained suspended for six years, leaving academic staff without an effective mechanism to progress professionally.

The work stoppage began yesterday, with the University of Technology Academic Staff Union (UTASU) at UTech citing two primary grievances. Firstly, Ordinance 1999-16, which pertains to academic promotion, has been suspended for six years, leaving staff without a clear path for professional advancement. UTASU acknowledges management's efforts but expresses dissatisfaction with the continued delays.

Secondly, the union highlighted the failure to settle the Government of Jamaica's compensation package for UTech academic staff for the 2022-2025 period. While most public-sector workers have reached agreements, UTech staff are still awaiting a resolution. This delay is particularly concerning as other public-sector groups are already negotiating for the subsequent 2025-2027 period. UTech staff's compensation is also linked to UWI's, where a similar settlement for 2022-2025 is pending.

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the failure to settle the Government of Jamaica’s compensation package for UTech academic staff for the 2022-2025 period.

Professor Paul Brown, president of the West Indies Group of University Teachers, Jamaica (WIGUT Jamaica), confirmed that UWI academic staff commenced their industrial action on Monday, August 10. The action is directly tied to delays in the compensation review process. Final documents were submitted to the Ministry of Finance in November 2025, but despite a meeting on June 1, no further progress or meeting dates have been scheduled.

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the action is directly related to delays with the compensation review.

The union had warned that normal operations could be jeopardized if no progress was made before the new academic year. After the Ministry failed to provide a meeting date by July 31, members voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action, citing an unsatisfactory response and a lack of progress in negotiations.

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normal operations at UWI in Jamaica could not be guaranteed when the new academic year began if there was no progress on the matter.