Three cases against the Interim Order preventing Vice Chancellors accepting resignations of academics would be heard today in the Court of Appeal, FUTA said. The three cases had been filed in the Court of Appeal against the Interim Order and prevented Vice Chancellors of the Ruhunu, Jayawardenapura and Wayamba universities from accepting the resignations of academics, FUTA (Federation of University Teachers Association) said.
The interim order was given by the Court of Appeal last week as a result of three writ applications filed by three undergraduates of the respective universities. The interim order restrained the VCs from accepting the resignations tendered by Department Heads as part of the trade union action carried out by the FUTA to urge the government to grant their demands of a substantial pay hike.
Meanwhile, a third round of discussions was held between FUTA members and government officials Monday evening in a bid to reach a settlement.
FUTA spokesman Dr. Mahim Mendis told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the third round of discussions also ended in a stalemate.
“The discussion was attended by the relevant officials unlike the last Friday’s meeting at Temple Trees and they included Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Salaries and Cadres Commission Chairman and several officials of the Finance Ministry. However, no decision was taken to resolve the crisis of the academics,” he added.
It has been over a month since the academics of most universities in the country tendered their resignations from the voluntary positions they held as part of the series of trade union actions initiated by FUTA. The academics have also decided to abstain from the 2011 G.C.E. A/L answer-script evaluation process if the government failed to provide effective solutions to their demands.
