Amidst simmering tensions, the University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) has decided to continue their trade union action despite the government’s attempts to find common ground and end the four-week-long strike.
Co-Chairman of UTUJC, Dhammika S. Priyantha, reportedly stated that they would persist with the strike, citing the government’s failure to secure funding for this year, despite President Ranil Wickremesinghe advising the Cabinet of Ministers to appoint an expert committee to study the salary anomalies of non-academic staff.
The trade union action by the non-academic staff has now reached its 27th day, disrupting studies at several state universities. According to trade unions, over 15,000 university non-academic staff members joined the strike, demanding a resolution to the long-standing issue of the monthly allowance payment and the 15% salary cut implemented in 2016.
In response to the persistent strike, the Cabinet of Ministers decided yesterday (27) to appoint a committee headed by the Secretary of the Treasury to study the salary anomalies and provide recommendations to address these issues before the 2025 budget. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education, in a media release, requested that the non-academic staff end the strike and return to work. The Ministry also assured that there would be no issues regarding salaries and overtime payments.
Despite the Ministry of Education’s request, trade unions declared that they would not accept the Cabinet’s decision and demanded a favorable solution regarding their salary anomalies. As a result of the trade union actions, several universities have been unable to conduct lectures and operate laboratories, disrupting essential tasks needed to continue students’ studies.
The Sunday Times reported that the government has decided to take strict disciplinary action against university non-academic staff. The newspaper also reported that the University Grants Commission’s chairman, Prof. Gamini Samanayake, issued a circular stating that all employees who do not report to work will be considered on no-pay absence.
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