Explanatory Note:
Teachers Association of
Eastern University
30 May 2013: Token
strike
Self respect and
dignity is common to all.
We are regretfully compelled to stage this strike against the
abuse of one of our members by the Vice Chancellor, disrespecting
his self respect and dignity.
On the 18th of April 2013, the Vice Chancellor had
summoned one of our members from Batticaloa
to his office at Vantharumoolai and ‘scolded him in an arrogant way and
told him to quit his job immediately or find another job otherwise he will
interdict him. Further he
threatened him not to work with
TAEU and told not to cooperate with the Dean and fellow academic staff from the
Department’. Our member had been so depressed and worried he had to be
hospitalized for treatment.
The Teachers Union of
Eastern University vehemently condemns
this action.
The Vice Chancellor had claimed that he had summoned this
staff on the complaint of the students of the medical faculty and told him that
if fails to improve him he will have to
leave the university. It is unacceptable to accepted that the students had directly complaint to
the vice chancellor on the teaching by a member of staff and he had
independently taken action ignoring the
channels of Head of department, Dean of
Faculty, Faculty Board, Student Counselors etc. Further it questions the entire stream of communication and channels and
ridicules the role of various bodies of academic administration.
At the same time, it is considered that a letter signed by some
staff members in favour of the Vice Chancellor had been the cause behind this episode where this particular
staff member had refused to sign it. It is as known fact that the Vice
Chancellor acknowledged the letter at the staff meeting and thanked the staff
who had signed it in his support.
We had encountered
many situations in the past and had ignored it in the best interest of the
University at large. (e.g)
a. One of our staff member was
interdicted for speaking on the mobile phone to the VC for 25 seconds as the VC
claimed abuse over the phone
b. The VC refused to accept the team
which went on behalf of the affected candidate above.
c. He had branded staff as
‘regionalist’ at a meeting held with him
and caused hurt
d. Threatened the secretary of the TAEU
that he will sack him
‘Sacking’ and ‘interdiction’ had become a part of his
vocabulary at present.
We condemn the culture
of administrative arrogance.
Though this token protest
focuses on the affected member of our staff the principles enshrined are common to all
members of staff at Eastern University.
‘Every employee has the right to
his/her self respect and Dignity and it is not negotiable.’
