Students at the University of Technology in St. Andrew laze about on campus after classes were called off for the day when lecturers went on strike yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Classes could resume at the University of Technology (UTech) this afternoon if lecturers who took strike action yesterday accept Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies' offer to meet with them.

Dr. Davies informed the lecturers yesterday that he would meet with them only if they called off the strike.

The lecturers are expected to meet at 9 o'clock this morning to decide if they will take the minister up on his offer.

Yesterday, more than 400 lecturers at UTech went on strike, triggering a suspension of classes in every faculty at the institution as the educators pressed the Government to respond to their demands for retroactive pay they claim was owed to them.

The strike action shut down the St. Andrew institution on only the second day of the new school year and threatened to cause major disruptions in the university's academic schedule. The lecturers insisted that they would stay off the job for as long as it took to get the Government to respond favourably to their demands.

After Dr. Davies' offer yesterday, Sherlette Rookwood-Brown, president of the University of Technology Academic Staff Union (UTASU), said she could not say whether classes would resume until this morning's meeting.

The lecturers were demanding that the Government provide the academic staff at the school with a schedule outlining how and when they would receive their retroactive pay.

"We want to get on with the job, but this matter must be brought to a closure," she said.

According to Mrs. Rookwood-Brown, the matter dated back to 2002 when the university conducted a review of administrative and technical staff pay packages and made adjustments in certain areas.

She said that this created "serious inconsistencies" between the packages for selected administrative and technical jobs and academic posts. The academic staff pushed the school's administration for a review of the new packages and, when this was done, the Government agreed to increase the rates paid to academic staff members.

Retroactive pay

They received the new packages in May this year, but insisted that they should receive pay retroactive to 2002. Mrs. Rookwood-Brown said this was the issue that led to yesterday's shutdown.

"We were promised a response (from the Finance Ministry) last Friday and we did not receive one. UTASU finds this new development unacceptable. We accept our responsibility as primary partners in the delivery of the institution's core product, teaching and learning. Therefore, we believe that our interests should be dealt with fairly and urgently," she said.

With the possibility of the strike continuing today, Mrs. Rookwood-Brown stressed that every effort would be made to minimise the impact on the students.

Meanwhile, Karl Wilkinson, president of the UTech Students' Union, said the pupils were taking no sides in the matter, but insisted that the administration press for a speedy resolution.