Arbitration is for labourers – not university academics, says union group

Professors and lecturers will continue their strike until the Government comes up with an acceptable strategy to resolve the deadlock at universities around the country, Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) General Secretary Dr. Terrance Madujith told the Sunday Times.

FUTA representatives had discussions with the Commissioner General of Labour early this week. The Government has called for arbitration to resolve the issues, but the FUTA insists on direct engagement with the authorities.

Last month FUTA members had three meetings with labour officials and also met the Minister of Labour, Gamini Lokuge.

The Commissioner General of Labour views the ongoing university strike as an industrial dispute between FUTA and the University Grants Commission (UGC), and therefore should be resolved in a process of arbitration. The FUTA was asked to nominate an arbitrator on their behalf.

“We do not see this as an industrial dispute,” Dr. Madujith told the Sunday Times. “We are academics, not labourers. Only labourers submit to arbitration. FUTA vehemently opposes the idea of arbitration. We have very broad demands of national importance.”

Following the discussions with the Labour Commission, FUTA’s executive committee held a meeting at

“We do not see this as an industrial dispute. We are academics, not labourers. Only labourers submit to arbitration. FUTA vehemently opposes the idea of arbitration. We have very broad demands of national importance.” – Dr. Terrance Madujith, General Secretary, Federation of

University Teachers’ Association (FUTA)

the Open University.

“At the executive committee meeting, the FUTA unanimously decided not to engage with any arbitration committee. We see our demands as being of the utmost importance, and we insist on negotiating with the government,” Dr. Madujith added.

The FUTA has set up a fund to help academics who need financial aid while the university deadlock continues.

“The fund was launched for members who need financial assistance. We plan to give loans to the most needy lecturers. But the fund has to be formalised first. The Government is already making false allegations about FUTA going around collecting dollars. We have to formalise everything and make everything transparent.”

The FUTA plans to hold a rally in Colombo on Sunday 28 to demonstrate solidarity with the other trade unions. There will also be a protest march from Kandy and Galle on Monday the 24th. The FUTA is collecting signatures for a petition to support its main demands. The target is one million signatures.