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Uni non-academic staff stick to salary demand despite rejection
The government has ruled out a salary increase for university non-academic staff, but the union has vowed to continue to press for their demands.
The strike has gone on for more than 50 days, with union members resorting to protests and even a ‘Satyagraha.’
“They seek a 25% salary increase, which the Treasury cannot afford, so we came down to a 12% kind of agreement this year, but the fact is that if we grant them a salary hike, we reliably understand seven other sectors are planning to go on strikes on the same basis. So, that will be a whole range of strikes and trade union actions,” Higher Education State Minister Dr. Suren Raghavan told the Sunday Times.
“At this time, the country cannot afford that kind of politicised trade union action wave. This problem started with the inception of the average 38% salary increase for academics. Academics are very silent now after getting their salaries. I understand the reasonable demands of non-academics. That is why I spoke to them and found an answer for them,” he said.
“My suggestion is to ask them to come to work and start negotiating while working. If they come to work, we pay all the dues the next day.’’
All island university trade unions held a protest close to the Presidential Secretariat this week. Pic by Akila Jayawardena
The strike, now in its eighth week, has had a serious impact on university operations nationwide. Non-academic staff, including administrative, maintenance, and support personnel, have been absent from their duties, and essential services, student administrative processes, and day-to-day operations have been severely affected.
“The state has to decide to protect the entire state and the citizens of this country, and the union thinks about 14,000 trade unions. But both parties have to think about the 250,000 university students who are at home now,’’ Dr. Raghavan said
The university students have expressed concerns over the continued disruption of education and university life. Many have expressed frustration with delays in administrative services, hindered access to resources and overall uncertainty.
“The financial loss is about Rs 150 million a day due to the non-academic union strike,’’ said Dr. Raghavan.
A committee appointed by the President is due to start examining all public sector anomalies and demands, with priority given to non-academic staff demands.
According to Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena, increments will be added to the budget proposals, and a solution is expected by January 2025.
The 2025 budget will have two different taxation systems, and the ratio of inland expenditures to inland income will be different.
According to the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman, Professor Sampath Amarathunga, the university non-academic staff salary issue is not the allocation of money but the policy decision of the government to increase salaries.
“UGC is not an institution where we can increase our salaries. It comes under the government’s policy-making mechanism. Whatever the government’s decision, we are here to implement it. We submitted all the information, and President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a new committee to look into salary anomalies, and we are working towards solutions,” Prof. Amarathunga said.
Union chief Dammika S. Priyantha said: “With inflation at an all-time high, basic necessities like food and housing have become unaffordable. It is only fair that non-academic staff receive salary increments comparable to those given to academic staff.”
Mr. Priyantha said that the government does not need to allocate new funds but can use the existing UGC budget.
“The UGC has issued a letter confirming it has enough money to pay the non-academic salary increase,” Mr. Priyantha said.
Negotiations have been ongoing, with Dr. Raghavan, a key figure in the discussions, indicating on June 3 and 4 that a solution of a 12% salary increase would be provided within a week. However, the promise has not yet been fulfilled, Mr. Priyantha said.
“At a previous meeting held on January 22 with the Secretary to the Treasury, Minister of Higher Education Susil Premajayantha, and State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyabalapitiya, it was promised that the issue would be resolved within three weeks, but they have not been fulfilled either.
The UGC chairman verbally informed us to prepare for the meeting on June 25 with a newly appointed committee.’’
The union remains resolute in continuing the strike.
“I regret why the government has not taken any decision yet, despite such a huge loss to the state financially each day and the impact on human hours,” said Mr. Priyantha.
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