Colombo Medical Faculty teachers in token strike on Monday

August 24, 2012, 9:47 pm , The Island

The Colombo Faculty of Medicine Teachers Association yesterday decided to stage a token strike on Monday over the failure of authorities to find a solution to the current trade union action by FUTA now nearing two months.

Following is the text of a media release issued by FMTA President Prof. Ravindra Fernando in this connection:

"Faculty of Medicine Teachers Association held a special general meeting today ( 23.08.2012) to discuss the recent development within the university system with regard to the trade union action taken by the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA). The membership noted with regret the unsatisfactory way in which this matter has been dealt by the relevant authorities and expressed their displeasure on closure of the universities.

"The FMTA felt that this national issue should be addressed and solved promptly to avoid a crisis situation. The trade union action taken by the FUTA has gone on for almost 2 months but no real effort has been put to resolve this matter yet. The FMTA Colombo feel that the relevant authorities should consider this as an important national issue and try to reach for an amicable solution for the demands put forward by the FUTA. The closure of universities is not the proper solution for this problem. It is genuine and proper dialogue between the two relevant parties which will help to solve this issue.

"Therefore as a mark of protest against the failure of relevant authorities to solve this matter the FMTA Colombo at the special general meeting today (23/08/2012) decided to go on a token strike on 27th August 2012. As a result the academic staff of the Medical Faculty Colombo will refrain from conducting any routine teaching activities on this day."