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FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS

Department of Physics, The Open University of Sri Lanka, PO Box 21, Nugegoda rohanfernandoousl@gmail.com

FUTA Diary In the Months of August-September-October 2010

2nd August 2010 - Meeting with the Mr. S.B.Dissanayake nd FUTA met Minister S.B. Dissanayake on 2 of August 2010 at 5pm at the Ministry of

Higher Education to discuss the feasibility of initiating the salary increase. Request was made from FUTA to submit the new salary proposals along with salary statements of University academics in south Asian regions, Government, Statutory bodies and Central Bank. FUTA immediately responded and
3rd August 2010 FUTA submitted the new salary proposals to the Secretary to the Minister of Higher

Education
5th August 2010 Regular Ex-Co meeting of FUTA at Colombo University

FUTA decided to grant them till 31st August 2010, to finalize the proposals, if they initiate the discussion on or before 16th August 2010. FUTA is in the view that officials need some time to finalize the salary proposals through discussions. FUTA decided to inform the authorities that the new salary structures should be introduced on or before 31st August 2010.

12th August 2010 Meeting with the Mr. S.B.Dissanayake Twenty members were attended to meet Minister S.B.Dissanayake to discuss the feasibility of salary proposals submitted by FUTA

13th August 2010 - Meeting with the Mr. Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to the President Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Dr. Rohan Fernando, Prof. Sudantha Liyanage and Dr. Mahim

Mendis had met with Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, the Ministry and UGC officials and CoChairmen of National Salaries and Cadre Commission (NSCC) at the Presidents Secretariat. It was pointed out by Mr. Weeratunge that Sri Lankan Government has principally
agreed to increase the salary steps for university academics. However, he requested NSCC to study the proposal submitted by Secretary/Ministry of Higher Education, and submit their observations and approval soon. Mr. Weeratunge promised that he will persuade NSCC to submit their views and approval on or before the 25th August 2010 after inquiry made by Prof Sampath Amaratunge on the exact deadline of detail of new salary steps.

25th August 2010 E mail communication with Mr. Lalith Weeratunge Secretary/FUTA received an e-mail from Mr. Lalith Weeratunge just before the Ex-Co

meeting today mentioning that he want another one week to solve the matter since he was in India for Diplomatic mission. 27th August 2010 Meeting with the Minister S.B. Dissanayake FUTA delegations met Minister of the Higher Education 12 noon and urged him to intervene to finalize the salary proposals. 27th August 2010 - Regular Ex-Co meeting of FUTA at Colombo University

The trade union action will not be taken on 31st August 2010, but to wait for another one week from today as requested by Secretary to the President. If there is no breakthrough, FUTA will expect Trade Union actions to be pursued with resignation from Department Heads and other voluntary positions on 7th of September 2010.

30th August 2010 Press Release FUTA issued a press release explaining the current status of the salary issue. 2nd September 2010 Lunch Hour Protest Cancellation of the Lunch hour protest 4th September 2010 Mr. Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to the President
Prof.Sampath Amaratunge, Dr. Rohan Fernando and Prof. Sudantha Liyanage met Mr. Lalith Weeratunge at Hotel Janaki at 8pm.

5th September 2010 Delivery of the letter signed by Mr. Lalith Weeratunge Hand delivered a letter to Prof. Sampath Amaratunge at 8am mentioning the government stand of the salary issue of University Academics 5th September 2010 Informal Meeting at OUSL at 6pm Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Dr. Rohan Fernando, Mr. Thilak Subasinghe, Dr. S.R.D. Rosa, Dr. Premakumara de Silva, Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, and Prof Sudantha Liyanage (Dr. Mahim Mendis and Prof. Sanath Hettiarachchi was also invited. However, they could not attend the meeting because of other commitments) Agenda of the next day meeting was discussed and feasibility of incorporating of allowances into salary proposals was discussed.

5th September 2010 e-mail Communication with Ex-co members at 9pm An e-mail was sent to all Ex-Co meeting, calling for an urgent Ex-Co meeting of FUTA on 6th September 2010 6th September 2010 Meeting with Dr. P.B. Jayasundara at Treasury 8am Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Dr. Rohan Fernando, Dr. S.R.D. Rosa, and Prof Sudantha Liyanage represented FUTA

6th September 2010 - Special Ex-Co meeting of FUTA at Colombo University at 12.30
20 Ex-Co members attended (Minutes have already Sent to members) Having considered the outcome of the meeting with Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Ex-Co of FUTA unanimously decided to suspend the trade union action temporally Having considered the outcome of the meeting with Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Members of 13th Ex-Co FUTA unanimously decided to suspend the trade union action temporally

7th September 2010 Suspension of Trade Union Action

8th September 2010 Discussion on Service Minutes As proposed by Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Treasury, Ex-Co members of FUTA including Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Dr. Rohan Fernando, Dr. S.R.D.Rosa, Dr. Mahim Mendis, Prof. Sudantha Liyanage, Dr. Premakumara de Silva and Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, to discuss the drafting of Service Minutes, which may include, recruitment procedure, promotional scheme and salary steps proposed by Management Services Circular 2006/06. 15th September 2010 Handing Over the Draft Cabinet Paper to the Secretary/Ministry of Higher Education Prof. Sampath Amaratunge and Dr. Rohan Fernando have handed over the draft Cabinet Paper on Grade 1 admission to the Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, Secretary/Ministry of Higher Education. He assured that it will be sent to the Cabinet Secretary soon. 28th September 2010 Meeting with Dr. P.B.Jayasundara, Management Services Board and National Salaries and Cadre Commission (NSCC) at 10am Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Dr. Rohan Fernando, Dr. S.R.D. Rosa, Prof Sudantha Liyanage, Dr. Mahim Mendis and Dr. Muditha Vidanapathirana (Ruhuna Medical) represented the FUTA deligations. FUTA handed over the so called Service Minutes to the Treasury Secretary. Discussions were held on salary increase for University academic. Keep in mind of the total gross salary proposed by FUTA, various avenues to accommodate additional allowances were discussed. Secretary/Treasury in principle agreed to implement the new salary proposals with the forthcoming Salary proposals and requested FUTA to have more rounds of discussions with NSCC 5th October 2010 Meeting with Secretary of National Salaries and Cadre Commission at 12noon Prof Sampath Amaratunge and Dr. Rohan Fernando met Mr. Wijeratne Secretary/NSCC to see the current progress of Salary proposals. 18th October 2010 Cabinet Paper for Grade 1 Admissions in 2011 Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, Secretary informed that Cabinet paper on Grade 1 admissions was handed over to the Cabinet Secretary for Cabinet Approval. 25th October 2010 -14th Ex-co of FUTA 14th Ex-Co meeting of FUTA was held with 44 members of sister Unions to discuss the current status of the Salary Issue and the Future steps. Receipt of 63 applications for Grade 1 Admission and 01 admission for grade 3 (return after higher studies). Names from SJP were not received so far.

1st November 2010 final round of meeting with National Salaries & Cadre Commission As Directive of Mr. Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to the President, FUTA will meet the officials of National Salaries & Cadre Commission for final round of discussion on Budget proposals.

Dr. Rohan Fernando General Secretary- FUTA