Non-academics give Govt. time to rectify anomalies

November 22, 2011, 10:05 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe, The Island.

University non-academics yesterday said that they would give the government time until January 01 to rectify the anomalies in their salaries. This follows discussions they had with Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne at the ministry.

President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation R. M. Chandrapala told ‘The Island’ that Dr. Navaratne promised to work according to the proposed circular, which was to be issued, to rectify the anomalies in public sector salaries before December 31.

Dr. Navaratne, the Additional Secretary to the Ministry and eight members from the university trade unions attended a two-hour-long meeting yesterday.

He said that it was included in the 2012 budget which was presented in Parliament by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday.

"We were waiting to win our demand since 2006," Chandrapala said, adding that this was the last time they were going to be deceived by government promises.

University non-academics, including executive and administration officers, had been waiting for the rectification of their salary anomalies for the past six years and they were at the end of their tether. They staged a token strike on Nov. 02.