Students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) could be facing a rocky start to the new academic year as lecturers at both institutions have taken industrial action over unresolved compensation issues.

Academic staff at both universities began industrial action on Monday amid mounting frustration over delays in settling compensation matters dating back to the 2022-2025 period.

At UTech, however, lecturers are also protesting the prolonged suspension of an ordinance governing academic promotions.

Dr Tasheika Burris-Melville, public relations officer for the University of Technology Academic Staff Union (UTASU), said the union's action is based on two major outstanding issues.

She said Ordinance 1999-16, which governs academic promotion, has been suspended for approximately six years, leaving academic staff without an effective mechanism to advance professionally.

While acknowledging that UTech management has undertaken work towards resolving the issue, Burris-Melville said the continued delay has left the union dissatisfied.

The other major bone of contention is the failure to settle the Government of Jamaica's compensation package for UTech academic staff for 2022-2025.

According to Burris-Melville, while compensation arrangements for most public-sector workers for that period have been settled, UTech's academic staff are still waiting.

The situation has become even more frustrating, she said, as other public-sector groups have already moved into negotiations for the 2025-2027 period.

UTech lecturers are also affected by their compensation being indexed to that of UWI, where the corresponding 2022-2025 settlement also remains outstanding.

Meanwhile, Professor Paul Brown, president of the West Indies Group of University Teachers, Jamaica (WIGUT Jamaica), confirmed that academic staff at UWI also began industrial action on Monday, August 10.

Brown said the action stems directly from the stalled compensation review.

He said the final documents for the review were submitted to the Ministry of Finance in November 2025, while the union's most recent meeting with the Public Investment Unit and the ministry took place on June 1.

Brown said the union had warned that normal operations could not be guaranteed when the new academic year begins if there was no meaningful movement.

The union subsequently gave the Ministry of Finance until July 31 to respond and continue discussions.

But by Monday, Brown said no meeting date had been provided.

He said the ministry had previously indicated that it would complete its review of the documents by August 3 and meet with the union during this week.

With no meeting date forthcoming, members held an emergency general meeting last Tuesday and voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action.

Brown said the decision was prompted by what members considered an unsatisfactory response and the lack of progress in negotiations.

With the new academic year scheduled to begin later this month, the standoff has raised concerns about possible disruption to classes and university operations.

For lecturers at both institutions, the message is clear — they want the long-running compensation disputes resolved before they return to business as usual.

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