The academics’ salary figures publicized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) were manipulated to benefit their excuses for not granting the demanded pay hike, Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) charged yesterday
FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Dewasiri told Daily Mirror that the figures which the UGC had released contain numbers higher than what the academics actually get paid.
“For example the figure of a senior professor’s salary according to the UGC is about Rs. 30,000 higher than what is actually paid. The numbers they have released are nothing but a statistical gimmick to support their statements,” he said.
Dr. Dewasiri added that it was ironic for the UGC to be stating that the salary anomaly was not as grave as we claimed because it was the UGC that approved their proposal for a salary hike and passed it on to the Salaries and Cadres Commission.
Speaking further Dr. Dewasiri wholly dismissing speculation of a political conspiracy behind the demand for a pay hike stated that it was only a result of a longstanding salary anomaly.
“Even academics who directly support and are part of the government have expressed their solidarity towards our demand for a pay hike and our trade union actions. It clearly shows that the allegations the government and its authorities are coming up with are baseless,” he added. Meanwhile, Dr. Dewasiri stated that they had expressed their willingness to engage in a negotiated settlement with concerns to providing solutions to their demands and were awaiting an appointment for discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
