NON ACADEMICS IN CONTINUOUS STRIKE

More than 12,000 employees of the Non-academic staff of universities have commenced a continuous strike from today (6th) as discussion held yesterday (5th) between the Inter University Trade Union Federation and the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education Dr. Sunil Jayanthe Navaratne ended unsuccessfully. They have decided to engage in the continuous strike as there had been no solutions for the issues of salary anomalies that have existed for several years. Despite the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education offering a discussion with the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance P.B. Jayasundara, the Federation has rejected it as the offer was linked to the condition that they would abandon the strike action. The members of non-academic staffs of universities engaged in a token strike on the 22nd and 23rd of last month demanding a solution for the issue of salary anomalies. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Higher Education has decided to deduct from salaries of the striking employees. However, the representatives of the Inter University Trade Union Federation states the strike would be continued until a solution for the issue is given.