Railway workers protest overdue absorption
The Railway Technologists’ Union is up in arms against what it calls the government’s failure to absorb trained technicians in the department into the Basic Technological Service.
General Secretary of the Union M. A. Ratnasiri told The Island successive governments had reneged on their promises to do that for the past 15 years.
Ratnasiri said: “The Union members met the General Manager Railways on June 24 this year and he accepted our position. The GMR assured that steps would be taken to obtain Cabinet approval for the purpose but up to date the political leadership has not acted in a favourable manner,” he said.
The trained technicians attached to engines, carriages, bridges, signals, ways and buildings sections of the railways were absorbed into the Basic Technological Service on Jan. 01, 1997. Though 12 years have passed the railway authorities have not adhered to the service minute, Ratnasiri said.
“Promotions due to our members every four years are not granted,” Ratnasiri said.
Ratnasiri also urged the government to promote those aggrieved officers.
Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma could not be contacted for comment as he was out of Colombo.
by Harischandra Gunaratna
Source: The Island
