University non-academic staff not paid due to strike, says union

Colombo, June 21 (Daily Mirror) - The university's non-academic employees have claimed they have not received their June salaries due to the ongoing strike, the University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) said.

They said, no staff members are available in the departments to process salaries. Once the 15% salary cut is rectified, the due salaries will be paid for the missed months.

Accordingly the UTUJC announced that the strike has reached its 51st day today (21).

Meanwhile, the UTUJC Co-Chairman Dhammika S. Priyantha said that their executive committee will meet this Sunday (23) to discuss the next steps regarding the continuous strike.

He also mentioned that the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman has informed the UTUJC to prepare for discussions with the salary committee.

"We hope that the salary committee will provide solutions for the rectification of the 15% salary cut," Priyantha said.

Currently, none of the non-academic employees are reporting to work.

Priyantha added that the trade union strike, initiated by all non-academic staff members, has brought all internal operations of the university system to a standstill.

All non-academic staff members began their trade union action on May 2, driven by demands such as rectifying a 15% salary cut imposed on them.