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| Tuesday, 19 August 2003 |
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by Manjula Fernando The Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) yesterday threatened that they would join the non-academics in their trade union action if the issue was left to drag on by the authorities. At a press conference at Nippon Hotel yesterday the convenor of the IUSF Ravindra Mudalige said there was a conspiracy to temporarily close all universities to sabotage the ongoing trade union action, taken last Tuesday on several demands including a substantial pay hike. "Non-academic staffers have not been given a salary increase since 1995 despite an agreement with the Government that a salary revision will be made every three years on par with the rising cost of living," he said explaining that they have decided to support their action which was found to be based on reasonable demands. The action was taken by the Inter-University Joint Trade Union Committee consisting of 24 university trade unions, after a series of discussions with the Tertiary Education and Training Ministry and the University Grants Commission officials, since April this year, failed. Another crucial meeting was held at the UGC on Thursday, after two days into the strike but the discussion which went on for over six hours ended without a settlement. The meeting was called by the Minister in a bid to resolve the issue which had crippled the entire university system. Meanwhile, Ministry Secretary Saman Ediriweera and UGC Chairman was due to meet Vice Chancellors of all universities in the afternoon to discuss the situation. The non-academics on strike staged a picketing in front of Kelaniya university yesterday. "We are planning to withdraw from the vital services like cleaning bathrooms and security, which had been continuing despite the trade union action, if the authorities fail to give a satisfactory response early," President of the Joint Committee Lionel Malwattage told the Daily News. In spite of the strike the universities and hostels remain open but since August 12 lectures and final examination of all campuses have been postponed indefinitely. |
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