MU staff to not work extra hours until demands met

Non-teaching staff members of the University of Mumbai have announced that staring August 16, they will not put in extra hours or report to work on bank holidays in a bid to draw attention to their long-pending demands.

Close to 1,200 employees, who are part of the Mumbai Vidyapeeth Karmachari Sangh, took the decision on Tuesday. This could impact the declaration of results, as about 400 of them are involved in examination and post examination work.

The union's demands include clearing the pensions of retired employees, reopening the canteen in the university's exam house, clearing pending promotions, etc. "We have decided to stay away from all additional duties until our demands are met," said Rupesh Malusare, Deputy Secretary of the union.

"University officials do not have the time to address our issues. We have been working from morning till midnight to cope with the additional work burden due to the new evaluation system. While we understand that the decision to not work extra hours and on holidays would slow down the work at the university, we have no option left as the officials have shown no consideration towards our demands," Malusare said. As on Tuesday, about two lakh answer sheets were yet to be evaluated.

Protests continued at the University's Fort campus over delayed results. Meanwhile, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad registered a token protest by putting a lock on the Fort campus gate on Tuesday night, members of the Bombay University and College Teachers' Union (BUCTU) conducted a signature campaign the same day.

Meanwhile...

MU's Academic Council (AC) passed the Perspective Plan on Tuesday and will go to the Senate for approval. The Plan provides for prospective colleges for different regions and the changes it plans to bring to the existing ones.