Railway strike scheduled for today called off
The token strike in the railway service scheduled for today has been called off by the Railway Services Combined Trade Union Alliance (RSCTUA) following a discussion with Transport Minister Dulles Alahapperuma, the trade union leaders said yesterday.
“We had a discussion with Minister Alahapperuma and his officials this morning and we were given an assurance that four out of five demands would be met in 48 days. We trust the minister and decided to call off the strike,” President RSCTUA Raja Kannangara said.
Around 12,500 railway employees representing 10 trade unions were to launch the one-day strike from midnight yesterday on five demands. While they want the salary anomalies created by the Public Administration Circular 06/06 on various technical categories be annulled, they also want their salaries to be restructured.
While they want the distress loans approved in 2007 to be paid, they want all public holiday leaves to be granted to employees they represent. Another of their demand is that the maintenance department carries out appropriate maintenance work. And yet another of their demand is that the irregular circulars that denied the privileges to employees be withdrawn. Among their demand is the payment of incentives with the new salary structure.
Meanwhile, Minister Alahapperuma at a press briefing at the Transport Ministry last afternoon said that he instructed ministry officials to grant four demands except the issue on cancellation of irregular circulars in 48 days.
“These demands are just and work-related. There was no hidden agenda or political objectives in these demands. I was able to persuade the Treasury to release necessary funds and I have instructed my officials to meet them within the 48 days timeframe,” Minister Alahapperuma said.
Secretary, RSCTUA Sampath Ranjith said that Minister Alahapperuma’s approach to the issue was praiseworthy as many of the demands had originated several years back.
“We have discussed these demands with several ministers without success. But the pragmatic approach and understanding of the Minister and his officials have made us believe that we have met our demands after several years,” he said.
General Manager, Railways Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan said after a long discussion the Treasury had agreed to release Rs. 300 million to pay incentive payments and arrears of railway employees.
“We try our best to meet the demands in 48 days as promised. We want to express our regret for our inability to fulfill some of the demands early as we pledged before due to administrative and financial constraints,” Dr. Gunaruwan stressed.
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
Source: Daily Mirror
Tags: maintenance department, maintenance work, ministry officials, necessary funds, political objectives, public holiday, railway employees, railway service, salary structure, technical categories, token strike, trade unions, transport minister
