By Olindhi Jayasundere

The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) that had earlier abandoned their trade union action after negotiations with the government was now hopeful of getting a 20% salary increase for all university academic staff in the 2012 budget.

University lecturers went on strike and later threatened to resign from their posts in May this year as their demands for a salary hike and other demands were not met by the government. The conflict ended after President Mahinda Rajapaksa agreed to some of their demands.

Thereafter a committee comprising officials from the Higher Education Ministry, University Grants Commission (UGC), the National Salaries and Cadre Commission and members of FUTA was formed to address the problems of the academic staff.

Other demands requested by the union are to increase overall state expenditure for education from the current 3% to 6% of the GDP. The union had also requested that university academic staff be given recognition as a special professional category and to provide other benefits such as housing loans, increased eligibility for car permits and other benefits.

FUTA Secretary Dr. Terrence Madhujith said that although the government had agreed to implement some of the union’s proposals, only a partial increment in academic staff allowances had so far taken place. The allowance which was earlier 31% has been raised to 62%, he said. Prior to that the last wage increment took place in early 2000.

Salaries of university academic staff ranging from junior probationary lecturers to senior professors currently vary from Rs.51, 000 to Rs.116, 000 all inclusive.