FMTA supports FUTA campaign

July 17, 2012, 10:29 pm, the island 

The Faculty of Medicine Teachers’ Association (FMTA) has thrown its weight behind the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) now on strike to pressure the government to address its grievances.

The FMTA, which is the trade union arm representing the academic staff of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo in a statement issued yesterday said: "FMTA notes with regret, that over the successive years funds allocated for higher education has progressively declined when compared to the rate of inflation and other countries in the region. This has led to a crisis situation, where the universities have had difficulties in retaining good quality academic staff. Inability of the universities to make the working conditions attractive and conducive, has favoured the brain drain of the academic staff.

If we are to take an example from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, two of our lecture theatres and the main building of the Anatomy Department were demolished over four years ago with a view to putting up a more spacious new building which was approved by the University Grants Commission and the cabinet of ministers. Up until now this has not materialized. Our faculty has to conduct over 35 examinations annually. At present, these examinations are conducted using examination halls of other faculties, and private institutions. This has caused enormous inconvenience to the staff and students alike. The communication allowance given to the specialists in the Ministry of Health has not been approved to the university clinical staffs who are in charge of wards providing patient care. It is these types of situations which causes frustration in the academic staff.

As the students have already been affected by recent trade union action by the non-academic staff, the FMTA is presently not planning to take trade union action. However, if the authorities do not take steps to rectify the legitimate grievances of the FUTA, we will be reluctantly compelled to take trade union action."