Uni. non-academics threaten indefinite strike

May 25, 2012, 9:52 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island


The non-academic staff including administrative officers of universities have decided to launch a continuous strike from June 6, in protest against the government’s failure to settle their longstanding grievances which include the rectification of salary anomalies.

President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) R. M. Chandrapala said yesterday that the Higher Education Ministry was purposely delaying finding a solution to their grievances, which they had promised to deliver earlier.

"Ministry officials have postponed meetings with us four times during the last two months," he said, adding that this time they would flex their muscles."We met officers from the National Salaries and Cadre Commission on several occasions and they finally promised to give their recommendations soon, their promises were reneged on," Chandrapala said.

"All staff, from registrars to labourers, would join the strike scheduled for June 06," Chandrapala said.

Secretary to the Higher Education Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said that they had been compelled to cancel meetings with university non-academic trade union as Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake was out of Colombo.

He said that they could not discuss the matter in the absence of the minister and after the cancellation the non-academics had not requested a discussion.

"We are not aware of any such all – out strike on June 06," Dr. Navaratne said.