UNIVERSITY of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) president, Professor Colin Gyles has refuted claims made by some faculty members about a promised salary increase in line with the findings of a compensation study conducted in 2023.

According to the faculty members, the study recommended that a 40 per cent increase be granted, to which the university’s Administration allegedly agreed. However, when staff members were given an increase in December 2024 it was below the reported recommended amount.

The staff members who spoke to the Jamaica Observer are contending that the salary increase was insufficient, and are advocating an increase that is in line with the recommended percentage according to the compensation study. They further stated that their salary is far below those of their colleagues in similar fields at other universities in Jamaica, and are calling for a better increase.

Professor Gyles, in response to these claims, said that following the compensation study in 2023, there was no agreement made to give staff members the recommended increase.

“The benchmarking review done in 2023 was not accepted by UCC because of fundamental flaws in [the] design, and it was returned to the contracted external consultants. No such promise was made regarding the quantum of increase,” said the president in an e-mailed response to the Sunday Observer.

According to Professor Gyles, a meeting was held with staff members in November last year during which they were updated on previously provided information about their salary increase.

The meeting followed a previous publication by the Sunday Observer, in November last year, that highlighted concerns by faculty members about their salary and working conditions at the educational institution.

“The university responded by hosting a meeting with all faculty and staff members in November 2024 to update previously provided information about the salary increase. This salary increase was implemented in December 2024, retroactive to September 2024. Individual letters are being provided to each faculty and staff member regarding this salary adjustment. Also, a general advisory was disseminated to faculty and staff regarding the increases that were implemented in December,” he said.

In response to a question about how lingering salary concerns will be addressed, despite the increase given in December 2024, the professor said, “In the course of fulfilling its responsibilities, the Human Resources Management and Development Department will continue to review average comparative salaries at similar Jamaican tertiary education institutions, and to propose future salary adjustments for consideration, as necessary.”

The professor also sought to refute claims made by faculty members that there is a lack of communication between them and the Administration.

According to the staff members, when Professor Gyles was appointed head of the university, despite an e-mailed request for a meeting, they had not received a response within their requested timeline. They further claimed that there was poor communication between the staff and the Administration, and issues that needed attention were not being addressed.

Staff members also said that it was only after the publication of a story highlighting their concerns in the Sunday Observer that a meeting was held. In the November meeting the employees claimed they were scolded by the Administration for bringing the matter to the media, and did not get a chance to air their complaints.

Professor Gyles refuted these claims.

“During the meeting in November 2024, when the story was published, faculty members were given the opportunity to discuss their grievances with the president. They were also reminded of the established policy and procedures for the effective internal management of such concerns,” said Gyles.

He added: “Communication flows are being enhanced by university-wide management meetings, scheduled each month, following the regular weekly or bi-weekly department meetings.”

Additionally, Professor Gyles refuted claims by staff members that there was no proper governance structure at the university for faculty members and that they were left without representation.

“The UCC governance structure comprises the UCC board of directors within which faculty, students, and staff are represented,” said Gyles.

He added that the structure has been in place since the inception of the institution.

Editor’s Note: The Jamaica Observer acknowledges that the UCC president had responded to e-mailed questions before the publication of the news story headlined “Not enough!” on January 5, 2025.

Professor Colin Gyles, president of University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (Joseph Wellington)