Sunday Leader 24/07/2011
By Janith Aranze
The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) has called off its 3 month long trade union action this week.
The FUTA has reluctantly settled for an interim solution, which will see their salary rise to Rs. 115,000 per month, after originally demanding a wage of Rs. 150,000 per month. Spokesman for FUTA, Dr Mahim Mendis, told The Sunday Leader that he is still deeply dissatisfied with the arrangement. “University academics are still extremely angry, 25% of our salary needs to go towards research and development, and so in reality we are getting Rs. 101,000 per month.
The reason we have accepted this solution is because we are more concerned about university students and A-level students in this country,” he explained.
Mendis confirmed that the marking of A-Level papers will now recommence but on the basis that the government appoints a special committee to facilitate a solution that is agreeable to bothparties.
“A-level marking will begin again as we have ceased our trade union action. The government has agreed to appoint a special committee, where we hope the matter will be sorted out during the next few days,” Mendis said.
