Salary hike not on the cards

The deadlock over a salary dispute between the National Salaries Commission and Teacher Union Federations is expected to bring this year’s marking of Advanced Level and Ordinary Level answer scripts to a complete standstill, as teachers have threatened to resort to further trade union action .
Speaking to media, Joseph Stalin, Chairman of the Ceylon Teachers Union and chief organizer of the Trade Unions Federation stressed that all union members have agreed to stop correcting answer scripts, if their demand for a pay hike is not met.
“What we have been demanding for is nothing new,” he said. “What was set out for teachers in the circular many months ago is not being delivered yet. That’s the only thing we need.”
Stalin further said that there is no reason for the National Salaries Commission (NSC) to make a fuss about the issue, as it is something that the Commission itself had promised to deliver. “There is no reason for the NSC to be confused over the matter. There is nothing wrong if the process is speeded up, as it was prolonged for such a long time.”
He further complained that the NSC was the stumbling block, even after Education Ministry officials promised the said increase. “Currently the Commission is just not in a position to look into a salary increase. But we are working to clear anomalies. We met with officials concerned to discuss the matter,” said Lionel Fernando, Chairman, National Salaries Commission.
Fernando added, the Commission is in fact looking into the matter and trying to arrive at a reasonable solution. “However, a pay hike is just not on the cards at the moment,’’ he said.
Stalin said that they would resort to strike action and have also requested teachers to refrain from initiating or taking part in extra curricular activities in schools. The continued wave of trade union action follows the sick note campaign initiated by the Teachers’ Union Federation.