Grievances
As a member of WIGUT, you can lodge complaints and grievances to the WIGUT Grievance Committee under Blue Book Section 15 Sub-Section 236-242.
Grievances Procedures
The WIGUT and the Council of the University have agreed that grievances arising out of the contract of employment and terms and conditions of service as stated in the Blue Book shall be of two categories: Individual, concerning one or more members of staff of the union in a restricted manner, and General, concerning significant membership on a wider campus basis. It is AGREED that the term “days” below does not include Saturdays, Sundays nor Public Holidays.
Individual Grievances
The member(s) along with their Union Representative(s) present case in writing to the Head of Department or equivalent. Failing meaningful action within three (3) days of receipt of the case, then the member(s) along with their Union Representative(s) take the case to the Dean or equivalent in non-Faculty sections, or 1 their nominee. Failing meaningful action within five (5) days of receipt of the case, then, the member(s) along with the Union Representative(s) take the case to the Campus Principal. Failing meaningful action within (7) days, then the case shall be referred to arbitration under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour.
Arbitration shall be by a suitable independent and mutually agreed arbitrator or arbitrators whose decisions shall be final and binding on both parties. The parties agree that the arbitrator(s) shall be selected within ten (10) days of the receipt of the case. The terms of reference to be placed before the arbitrator(s) shall be mutually agreed. If the parties fail to agree upon the selection of an arbitrator after ten (10) days of a request by either party for arbitration, either party shall immediately request the services of the Ministry of Labour to provide a list of five (5) arbitrators. The parties shall have seven (7) days following receipt of the list, to select an arbitrator in the following manner. The Union shall have the right to strike one name from the list, the University shall then strike one name, and the process will be repeated and the remaining person shall be the arbitrator. However, if after seven days one of the parties fails to adhere to the preceding arrangement the other party will request the Ministry of Labour to act on behalf of the delinquent party in order to complete the process. The decision of the arbitrator shall be binding upon the parties.
Note: In (a) and (b) above when there is no appropriate officer, or the issue is not within the purview of such an officer, the procedure may move to the next stage.
General Grievances
Union representatives take case to Campus Principal. No meaningful action within ten (10) days of receipt of the case, then The matter is referred to the Ministry of Labour for a conciliation meeting within ten (10) days of receipt of the case under the Chairmanship of an Officer of the Ministry. If no solution reached, then The case shall be referred to arbitration under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour. Arbitration shall be by a suitable independent and mutually agreed arbitrator or arbitrators whose decisions shall be final and binding on both parties. The parties agree that the arbitrator(s) shall be selected within ten (10) days of receipt of the case. The terms of reference to be placed before the arbitrator(s) shall be mutually agreed. If the parties fail to mutually agree upon the selection of an arbitrator after ten (10) days of a request by either party for arbitration, either party shall immediately request the services of the Ministry of Labour to provide a list of five (5) arbitrators. The parties shall have seven (7) days following receipt of the list, to select an arbitrator in the following manner.
The Union shall have the right to strike one name from the list, the University shall then strike one name, and the process will be repeated and the remaining person shall be the arbitrator. However, if after seven days one of the parties fails to adhere to the preceding arrangement, the other party will request the Ministry of Labour to act on behalf of the delinquent party in order to complete the process. The decision of the arbitrator shall be binding upon the parties. In cases where the matter is one for the University Centre (e.g. staff employed directly to the Centre) the Vice Chancellor shall take the place of the Campus Principal in 241(c) and 242 (a).
The parties agree that General Grievances could arise from disagreement on the interpretation of the Collective Agreement and from breaches of the terms and conditions of service stated in the Blue Book.
Source: Clause 239-244, BlueBook 2011 edition.
For grievance matters, please email the WIGUT Secretary here.