On November 10, the board of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS) issued an official letter addressed to the Vakvereniging Wetenschappelijk Personeel van de Universiteit van Suriname (VWPU, the union representing the institution’s academic staff), demanding an immediate end to the ongoing work stoppage launched by union members two days prior. Signed by university vice-chair Patrick Peneux, the correspondence comes after the VWPU formally notified management on November 8 that its general membership meeting had voted to halt all core work activities until long-overdue supplemental allowances are fully deposited into staff bank accounts, with staff remaining present on campus during the industrial action.
The university administration openly acknowledges multiple outstanding payment obligations, including retroactive transport allowances covering the period from January to June 2026, backpay for bridge allowances spanning March to August 2026, and ongoing bridge allowances due starting October 2026. The previously promised deadline for clearing the overdue transport allowance by the end of October was missed entirely, a delay the university attributes directly to the national government’s failure to disburse the required supplementary funding. Management notes it has already submitted formal funding requests and included the required sums in its fourth-quarter credit allocation application, and pledges to process payments immediately once government funds arrive, though it cannot provide a concrete disbursement timeline as the transfer schedule falls entirely outside institutional control. The board also emphasizes that other previously agreed financial commitments have been fully honored, including laptop allowances, overdue internet, phone, research and management stipends, and the settlement of 2025 AVR benefits, with increased monthly allowances being distributed as scheduled since July.
Citing a formal collective agreement signed with the VWPU on April 28, 2026, the university argues the work stoppage violates binding terms: the accord stipulates that any financial constraints must trigger collaborative negotiations on payment execution and phasing, and Article 7 of the agreement explicitly prohibits all collective industrial action related to matters outlined in the document. Administration representatives warn the ongoing disruption is harming educational delivery and student progress, while doing nothing to accelerate the government’s release of the pending funds. The university’s bureau director has been instructed to open urgent negotiations with the union, while the board reserves all legal and procedural rights related to the unapproved work action. Separately, the VWPU has submitted an additional demand that the 15% salary increase granted to all national public servants and equivalent staff effective September 1, 2026, must be paid no later than November 30, a request the university has not yet issued a formal substantive response to, with the bureau director set to follow up with the union directly on this matter in separate communications.
AdeKUS-bestuur wijst werkonderbreking af: geld overheid nog niet ontvangen
