LE PLAN DE RESTRUCTURATION DU PROFESSEUR MORGAN: Divergences au sein de l’USU

Le plan de restructuration du Pr Morgan continue à faire des vagues. Après les deux lettres ouvertes adressées au Pro Chancellier et président du Conseil d’administration le Pr Jugessur par la University of Mauritius Academic Staff Union (UMASU), suivies peu après d’une lettre conjointe de la University Technician Union (UTU)  et de la University of Mauritius Staff Union (USU) publiée le 5 février indiquant leur adhésion à la réforme et dénonçant par ailleurs le président et le secrétaire de l’USU. Ce syndicat vient prendre aujourd’hui à contre-pied l’un de ses membres, l’assistant trésorier, dans une lettre que nous reproduisons ci-joint :
Following the article that appeared in Le Week-end of the 5th February 2012 entitled « D’autres voix s’elevent» , the USU is informing its members that the Assistant Treasurer has irresponsibly misused the name of the University Staff Union for his own personal frustration, without the permission or authorization whatsoever from the President and the USU executive members.
At our previous executive meeting, held on 25th January 2012, the Assistant Treasurer was strongly warned, not to use the USU to tarnish the image of our prestigious institution.
In the above article, the Assistant Treasurer pointed out that “the Morgan reform only concerns people in Senior Management, most of whom are not even members of the union”.
This statement of the Assistant Treasurer is refuted strongly based on the following points:
(1) The USU membership consists of several categories of staff-Some in middle management others in lower end of the hierarchy - Senior Management is not represented in the USU membership. The USU has the mandate to defend the interest of ALL its members, whatever their category or numbers - This is the spirit of a Union and the very reason why one would choose to be a member of a Union.
(2) The Morgan Plan may affect all the non-academic staff of the UoM, as they represent the various grades in a hierarchical structure which starts with the Senior Management.
(3) USU members had not been consulted particularly when the Morgan Plan was discussed and changed by the Sub Committee of the Council and we refute all the previous statements made by whom so ever.
(4) The USU wishes to be sure that the interest of its members are not jeopardised by the current exercise being undertaken to review the organisational structure of the UoM.
The Assistant Treasurer’s actions to make statements to the Press in the name of USU is very damning and brings disgrace to the very essence of USU - “United We Stand and Divided We Fall”.
It is worth reminding members that he was the previous President of the USU and at the last Election, he was queried as to why he had not consulted his members on the re-structuring exercise, before giving his agreement for the re-structuring as the then President of USU. A petition signed by about 250 members had even been sent to him on the matter, but he had chosen to deem it anonymous!
The Council of the UoM, has yet to meet and decide on the Morgan Plan. So instead of creating doubts and ambiguities, we believe that we should wait and see what will become of the Morgan Plan.
We rely on our valuable members for their full support and understanding. Some people are desperately trying to divide this Union for their own benefit.
The members of USU constitute one united family and as such we should never allow ourselves to be influenced by people with hidden agendas.
During these testing times, let us show our strength and unity so that, OUR UNIVERSITY emerges as the winner and it becomes one of the best places to work.
We reassure everyone that such irresponsible action is severely condemned and appropriate actions will be taken to address the situation.