Talks fail, Uni. non-academics strike

June 5, 2012, 12:00 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe,the island


University non-academic staff, including administrative officers, will go on strike from today (06) as yesterday’s discussion with Higher Education Ministry officials failed.

President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation R. M. Chandrapala told The Island that they decided to launch an all out strike against the government’s failure to provide a solution to longstanding anomalies in their salaries.

"We went for yesterday’s discussion seeking a solution, because we don’t want to put university students into trouble," he said adding that Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne had failed to give them a written assurance on their demand.

Chandrapala said that Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake did not attend the discussion which was held at the ministry.

Successive governments, since 2007, took this issue lightly, he said adding that minister Dissanayake too took the issue lightly.

"This time we will show our strength to the government," Chandrapala said.

The senior trade unionist said that anomalies in their salaries had not been rectified for nearly a decade, but other government officials, including university teachers, got salary hikes during that period.

He said that this time they would not give up their struggle until the demands were met.

Chandrapala said however, they were ready for any discussions with the government while on strike.