University non-academic staff prepared to call off strike conditionally
Trade Unions (TU) representing University non-academic staff say they are prepared to call off their near month-long strike next week, if they are satisfied with the special report on their salary anomaly issue, prepared by the Salaries & Cadre Commission (SCC).
University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) Co-President Dhammika S. Priyantha said the TUs called off their protest march in Colombo on Thursday (3), in response to the Cabinet forwarding its observations to the SCC, after considering the proposals submitted by the TUs.
Mr Priyantha, however, insisted that the island-wide strike, which entered its 25th straight day on Friday, will continue.
“We were happy to note that th Cabinet accepted our 3 proposals outlining how to resolve our salary anomaly issue. Cabinet then forwarded them as observations to the SCC and directed it to draft a report on how to resolve this issue by next week. “That report is expected on Monday (7). We will study the report and decide to call off the strike or not,” he stressed.
He said the TUs would likely be able to study the report and decide on Monday itself.
About 16, 000 non-academic staff members belonging to 27 unions are on strike at 15 State universities and 15 State-run Higher Education institutions, paralysing all activities in them. - SJ