FUTA under pressure  to join strike

May 15, 2013, 9:52 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) is under pressure to join the May 21 token strike, organised by the Co–ordination Committee of the Trade Union Alliance (CCUTA), against the recent electricity tariff hike, ‘The Island’ learns.

Its crucial executive committee meeting held to decide whether to participate in the strike ended at the Colombo University Arts Faculty’s Board Room, leaving it to FUTA sister unions to approve the final decision.

FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri told ‘The Island’ that FUTA executive committee decided to partially take part in the strike without adversely affecting undergraduates.

"The executive committee decision would be informed to the branch unions and it will be implemented only if they approve it," he said.

Dr. Dewasiri said that according to the Ex-Co decision, FUTA would conduct examinations and other essential services in the universities on May 21, but lectures would be boycotted.

The FUTA planned to stage demonstrations at some universities too, he said.

The key trade unions that will participate in the May 21 strike are National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS), Postal and Telecommunication Officers’ Union, All Ceylon Trade Union Federation, Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union, Lanka National Estate Workers Union, Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union, All Ceylon Estate Workers’ Union, Public Service National Trade Union Federation, Eksath Kamkaru Sammelanaya, Inter University Employees’ Union.

Opposition political parties the UNP and JVP also have expressed their support for the scheduled strike.