Railway employees to resort to strike action
Over 17,000 railway employees were planning to resort to trade union action to resolve problems affecting them. The employees allege that there were salary anomalies which have not been addressed over a long period of time. They also allege that disaster loans have not been paid and that some employees have not been confirmed in their posts.
The General Secretary of the All Ceylon Railway Employees General Union, Sumathipala Manawadu said that the union will have discussions beginning July 1 before they resort to strike action.
He said that if the government continues to ignore the problems of railway employees, they would be forced to take trade union action and that they will request other railway trade unions to join them in their agitation.
Manawadu said that they held a meeting with Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma on June 17 last year to discuss problems faced by them and that the minister agreed to address the issues. However, he charged that none of their grievances had been looked into and no solutions have been found so far.
Pointing out that railway employees gave their wholehearted support in times of crisis Manawadu stressed that it is extremely regrettable that their grievances were being ignored now.
Taking the prevailing situation into consideration, the union has made a special request to the minister to hold another discussion before they resorted to strike action, and urged the minister to provide some sort of relief.
By Padmini Matarage
Source: lakbimanews
