Uni. Non-academics to meet NSCC tomorrow

Hopeful of positive response

September 27, 2011, 9:54 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

University non-academics are scheduled to meet officials of the National Salaries and Cadre Commission (NSCC) tomorrow (29) to discuss matters relating to anomalies in their salaries, which have not been rectified since 2006. They will put forward their proposals on rectifying the anomalies.

Representatives from the University Grants Commission (UGC), Higher Education Ministry and the Treasury are also expected to participate in the discussions.

President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) told The Island yesterday that their executive committee would meet tomorrow afternoon to decide the future course of trade union action, which would be based on outcome of the discussion.

"We have already planned to take trade union action if government fails to resolve the problem as soon as possible," he said adding they would decide what action should be performed, based on the discussion with NSCC.

Chandrapala said that they however expect a positive response from the NSCC to their proposal at tomorrow’s meeting.

University non-academics, including administrative officers, performed a sick-note campaign in universities island wide on September 12 and threatened a token strike within 14 days demanding that the government take urgent steps to rectify anomalies in their salaries.

Chandrapala said that all successive governments, after 2006, had failed to honour the pledges made to non-academics and the problem had worsened now.

"This time, we launched our protest by holding a demonstration opposite the UGC on August 03," he said adding they would cripple universities overnight if the government continues to disregard their agitation.