IUSF urges Govt. to solve non-academic staff issues

The Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) yesterday urged the government to immediately solve the issues of the nonacademic staff attached to the State universities in order to continue with the academic activities of university students.

The University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) had launched a work stoppage on February 28 over several demands relating to their employment, which

Only the government has the authority and ability to provide a solution. The government should immediately solve this issue

they had proposed one and-a-half years ago, including a salary hike.

IUSF Convener Lahiru Weerasekara told Daily Mirror that all the academic activities at state universities including lecture sessions and scheduled examinations were cancelled indefinitely due to this work stoppage.

“Even after holding several discussions with the government ministers, these non-academic staff had not been granted with a reasonable solution to their issues. Only the government has the authority and ability to provide a solution. The government should immediately solve this issue,” he said. He also said the demands of these non-academic staff attached to the State universities were justifiable since the authorities were in an attempt to avoid the agreements they had reached 18 months ago upon several issues of these non-academics.

Meanwhile, UTUJC Chairman Edward Malwattage said the recent discussion held with State Minister of Higher Education Mohan Lal Grero failed and therefore trade union action would become inevitable until solution to their demands were met.