SLITU

 

SRI LANKA INDEPENDENT TEACHERS’ UNION, Sri Lanka

FOUNDATION/BACKGROUND: SLITU was inaugurated on 6th of October 1971 under the leadership of its founder President Mr. M.P. Mendis.

HISTORY 

The union was inaugurated  with the short   term objective of fighting against a pay cut of a specialized teacher: later expanded and dominated many pressing issues of teachers such as personal problems, professional development equalization of salaries, transfers and so on. After a much struggle against the prevailing government at that moment the union was amalgamated with three other unions under the name of Sri Lanka Independent Teachers’ Union and extended the membership to all the categories of teachers in the government sector.

VISION 

Creating a proud and proficient teacher population with the sense of professional rights and responsibilities and cultured with the fundamentals of Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, Behaviour and Discipline.

MISSION 

Achieving the aims and objectives of the union and the professional rights of its members through fair means of demanding enriched with loving kindness towards the student population.

OBJECTIVES 

* Achieving professional rights and  teacher proficiency.

OPERATION  

* Collecting dues on cheque off system  through the zonal education offices.
  * Annual general meetings.
  * Committee meetings
  * Island wide net work of branches.

 

STRUCTURE   

Comprised of the Executive Committee membership of 45 inclusive of three main officials, the President. The General Secretary and Treasurer. The union comprised of six sub committees,  Finance Committee, Organizing Committee, Committee of Propaganda, Education Committee, Professional Development Committee and Women’s Committee each bearing its own office bearers.

ACHIEVEMENTS  

Mr. M.P. Mendis the founder president and the advisor of the Sri Lanka Independent Teachers’ Union is the architect of the World Teachers’ Day. His proposal regarding the WTD at the assembly of delegates of WCOTP held in Costa Rica in 1990 accepted October 6th as the World Teachers’ Day.

On the strength of the WTD, the union was able to build a strong teacher unity.

The Union demanded the Sri Lankan Government to implement the ILO/UNESCO recommendations of 1966 and as a result of the constant demands the Government was forced to formulate the “Teacher Service”, allowing the teachers to rise to administrative services from the status of the teacher. It came to effect from 1994 under the regime of Chandrika Bandaranayake.

Equalization of salaries bringing off 60 salary schemes into 6 schemes.

Starting the membership of Education International in 1990.

The First Teachers ’ Day ever held in Sri Lanka was held under the patronage of SLITU.

The EDCS (The Government loan scheme for teachers) office is contested by the union every year obtaining the top seats for the union.