The employees and Management Team (MT) of the University of St. Martin (USM) remain "apprehensive about their treatment in terms of salaries, benefits, opportunities for advancement, and professional development, and want these issues rectified," said WIFOL president Theophilus Thompson.
The university employees and MT members also commended USM board’s Building Committee and Fund Raising Committee for the milestone reached in the construction at the campus, said Thompson.
The union statement on behalf of its USM members was made over the weekend, following a WIFOL meeting with USM staff and ahead of the dedication of new classrooms and the official opening of the new semester on Monday.
Last week’s meeting between the USM board, management, and WIFOL was adjourned until Tuesday, January 27, said Thompson.
According to Thompson, the Management Team is paramount since the university board has replaced its five professionally trained St. Martiners with two Americans, Kenneth Nolan, the new USM Chief Financial Officer, and Dr. Ron Pribble the new Dean.
Nolan and Pribble now make up a "Leadership Team," along with USM president Josiane Fleming Artsen.
Shop steward and MT member Michel Chance said that "there are strong indications that the Board wants St. Martiners to be relegated to mere employees and have no input in the decision making process."
"The MT has been in existence for almost a decade, but Dr. Lockie Johnson, president of the Board of Directors of USM, claims to have been unaware of its existence and the board has essentially replaced this team without any prior notice," said USM instructor Rhoda Arrindell.
The MT was made up of the USM president, the Dean of Academics, the Director of Admissions Angelique Hazel, Registrar Glenda Brazier, Student Counselor Leona Nestor-Hubert Richardson, Marketing Director Michel Chance, and Facilities Director Richard Courtney, said Arrindell.
"It seems that the Dr. Lockie Johnson-led board wants to relegate educated locals and professionals to the dark ages," Thompson said. "WIFOL and the workers will not allow this to happen."
This way of operating, dismissing the MT, dismissing employees at retirement age, but only after they joined the union to protect and advance their rights, is not part of the University of St. Martin’s culture and can set the institution back two decades," said Thompson. This year USM will be celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The staff and MT members are further concerned about whether there are discrepancies in responsibilities, salaries, and other benefits for the members of the Leadership Team in comparison to their situation, said Arrindell.
"The attitude of disrespect for the staff and people of St. Martin continues to be reflected in the documents BOD president Dr. Lockie Johnson presented as ‘ground rules’ for meetings," said Arrindell, who is also shop steward and USM Language Division head.
"Disrespect will not be allowed or tolerated in any form. St. Martiners, particularly young professionals, are working and proving themselves. This is our home."
"We chose to come home after our studies to contribute to the betterment of this society and our families. By the hook or the crook, we should be given a chance, and yes, at times we have to fight to claim that chance while doing our work expertly, working with respect for our people and loving our island," said Arrindell.
"As we pursue more autonomy, what precedent do we want to set for our youths and students studying at USM and those abroad and want to come back home?" Chance asked.
Thompson commended fundraising committee chairman Danny Ramchandani who has been intervening in the impasse between the staff and the board and who promised to seek amicable solutions in time for Tuesday’s meeting.
Ramchandani spear-headed the fundraising of $1.8 in pledges and donations for the building and advancement of the university.