The University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association (ULFASA) has termed as unfortunate the UL Board of Trustees’ threat against all legally employed staff that stay away from work for 10 days without authorization.
Recently, ULFASA convened an emergency General Assembly at the UL Capitol Hill Campus in Monrovia and unanimously passed a resolution to disengage from all academic activities on the campuses of the university until their plight is addressed without any precondition.
Among other things, the body has continued to remain out of the Fendell, Sinje, Medical and Capitol Hill campuses—until UL President, Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson, and the entire management team leave the administration of the institution, they maintain.
The University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association attributed their disengagement from all learning activities to the unpaid salaries for part-time lecturers and unbearable working environment for staff.
Following this decision, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the UL, on June 19, 2024 in a press statement, mandated all faculty and staff to immediately resume work or risk administrative action.
“Accordingly, the UL administration encourages all legally employed faculties to continue their regular activities on the university’s campuses, and reminds them that all unauthorized absence without excuse for ten working days is tantamount to resignation,” the BoT release stated.
But sharply reacting to the Board of Trustees on Thursday, June 20, 2024, the UL Faculty and Staff Association stated through a press statement that it was unfortunate for the Board to issue threats against the faculty and staff.
The leadership underscored that after a protracted period of the UL administration’s alleged mismanagement of the university, coupled with several failed promises to improve staff and faculty welfare, the BoT sees it befitting to maintain the status quo.
According to ULFASA, the board has maintained the status quo by granting the administration additional time to finally bring the already collapsed system to its final demise and to further victimize those who have gone against them.
“It is also very sad that the BoT whom we revere would issue threats to professionals, as if they are mere servants as previously done by the UL administration in their press release,” the release noted.
The leadership of ULFASA maintained that the decision of the General Assembly remains active and reinforced. The body also urged all staff and faculty to stay away from all administrative and academic activities until all their demands are addressed.
At the same time, the leadership of ULFASA has informed its members that the Presidents of ULFA and ULSA will not form part of any activity of the proposed “Search Committee”, which was recently constituted by the Board of Trustees to get a new President of the state-run university. “ULFASA therefore assures all staff and faculty that we remain strong together, and we shall remain resolute that whatever affects the staff affects the faculty, and vice versa,” the statement said.
The leadership further reminded all directors, deans and chairpersons not to compel any staff or faculty to go against this unanimous decision as the Executive Committee of ULFASA is empowered to take additional measures to ensure that their members are safe from reprisal actions.
