Teacher unions vow to continue TU action if govt. fails to address salary issue

Teacher and principal unions are demanding a meeting with Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena before the Cabinet sub-committee on teacher salary anomalies presents its final report to the Cabinet next week.

 “We will hold a discussion with unions today to decide on future trade union action to be taken after the lockdown is lifted. The government needs to address our salary anomaly issue immediately as it has already been delayed for over two decades. We need the teacher, principal, education administration services to be merged as a closed service. We have also asked for a meeting with the Education Minister before the sub-committee presents its final report to the Cabinet,” Ceylon Teachers Union’s General Secretary Joseph Stalin told Timesonline.

Mr. Stalin said union representatives are unaware of the recommendations made by the Committee.

Meanwhile, government school teachers will continue to stay away from online teaching, a protest that continues for the 45th consecutive day.

He said teacher principal unions are planning to get the support of close to 20 unions to join their struggle to solve their salary anomalies.

"We carried online petitions during the past week, but once the lockdown is lifted we will continue our trade union action. Teachers and principals will stay away from this year's Advanced Level examination application process, last year's Ordinary Level practical examination and the Scholarship and A/L examinations scheduled to be held in November and December this year," Mr. Stalin said.

The Cabinet sub-committee appointed to resolve the teacher’s salary issue consisting of Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera, Dullas Alahapperuma, Prasanna Ranatunga and Wimal Weerawansa met with union representatives last week and obtained their views on how to resolve the 24-year-old salary anomaly issue.

Though the Committee was to submit a report this week including recommendations, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dullas Alahapperuma announced that submission of the final report has been postponed by another week, as the committee needs to further discuss matters with the Finance Ministry and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.