Quick Update

Hello everyone! I just wanted to give you a quick update. First, I apologize for not writing sooner! I had hoped to post a new entry before now however we have been super busy! Of course we are studying all the time...we had our first kinda exam on Monday. It was called the unified quiz; basically it is a quiz/small exam that we can use to gauge how well we are studying. Hopefully, we will get our results tomorrow! Some funny news (well maybe it is not funny) about the school...some of the workers have gone on strike. We received this e-mail yesterday...

TO: All Faculty, Staff & Students

From: Chancellor Charles R. Modica

Date: September 16, 2008Re: Industrial Action by Union Workers

At approximately 2:00 pm today, the Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) negotiating team walked out of talks with the University Administration. Although we have not been formally advised by TAWU of the commencement of a strike by our workers, it appears that some of the staff have slowed down, stopped work or walked off the job.

Classes will continue as scheduled and we will continue to provide periodic updates about the situation. Expect disruptions to transportation, housekeeping and other essential services. Be advised that study areas, along with the restaurants will remain open. In the interim, we will make every effort to provide services using the management staff, as well as the staff who decide to continue working.

We are pleased that some members of our staff have made the decision to continue to provide much needed services to our community. The University employs over 600 Grenadians in Grenada and of those 600 employees approximately 400 are members of the union. We are uncertain about how many of the approximately 400 Union members will strike, slow down or stop work.

The University will supplement our security officers who continue to work with an outside security firm. Please be vigilant and report any emergencies to the University Security booth 444- 3898 or 777.

The Union negotiators walked out of talks today, when the University expressed concern over derogatory and libelous statements which have been disseminated over the last few weeks. The TAWU negotiating team refused to repudiate these derogatory and libelous statements which contravened the goodwill which exists between the University and the people of Grenada. The negotiators refused to address those statements and walked out.

We are pleased that the Acting Minister of Labour requested and will be hosting a meeting tomorrow at 2:00 pm. We will be represented and we are hopeful that the Union negotiating team will be present even though they walked out of talks today.

I just received an e-mail today with a link to a newsletter that has an article about our White Coat Ceremony from a few weeks ago. Click on the picture to go to the newsletter also check out the picture album...

As many of you know...I am a huge Martha Stewart fan. The new season of her show started this week. Her show today was all about blogging. Click on the images below to check out her show today about blogging and also her personal blog...