Bus owners threaten strike next week

Private bus owners have threatened to go on strike next week if the Government does not respond favourably to their request to increase bus fares to meet the increased fuel prices.

The bus operators are demanding they be allowed to increase fares by about 15% or be given concessions by the Government while businesses complain of heavy losses following the fourth fuel price hike within the year.

After the Government increased petrol prices to Rs. 101 a litre and diesel to Rs. 67 a litre, private bus owners and three-wheeler drivers say serious problems have arisen for them.

Private Bus Owners Association President Gemunu Wijeratne told The Sunday Times that bus operators were demanding a 15% increase in bus fares.

“According to the policy on bus fares, if fuel prices are increased by 4.5% within the year we have the legal right to raise bus fares accordingly,” he said.

He said bus operators are incurring heavy losses because fares have not been increased.

“Bus owners lose up to Rs. 750 per day on short distance trips and up to Rs. 1500 on long distance trips,” he said.

Mr. Wijeratne said a meeting with President Rajapaksa was not fruitful, but the association had decided to give a week’s time to the Government to resolve the bus owners’ problems.

Petroleum Resources Minister A.H.M. Fowzie told The Sunday Times that the Government would not allow a bus fare hike.

“The bus fares are reviewed annually in June, but this year the review was in April and therefore there will be no more increases in bus fares,” he said.

He also said the Government would not be intimidated by these strikes and that even though the private buses would not operate, the government owned buses would operate as usual.

All Island Three-wheel Drivers’ Welfare Association president Lalith Dharmasena said the current fuel price has had an adverse impact on three-wheeler drivers throughout the country.

“Just because fuel prices rose by Rs. 5 per litre we cannot charge our regular customers more than what they usually pay,” he said.

He also said his organization does not believe in strikes but would try to find a solution by negotiating with the relevant authorities.

Sarath Mallawarachchi, a three-wheeler driver who operates with a taxi meter fixed to his vehicle said he works about 16 hours a day and earns up to Rs. 35,000 a month. Apart from the monthly maintenance cost which is about Rs. 3000, he spends more than Rs. 20,000 on petrol a month.

“I can’t survive with the income that remains when the cost of living is so high,” he said.

Saman Rathnapriya of the August 4 Trade Union Movement (A4TUM) told The Sunday Times the Government was blindly increasing fuel prices without considering the financial strain it causes the public.

“We have sent letters to the authorities and requested them to cut taxes and reduce fuel prices. Within a week all trade unions will unite and take a decision on how to resolve this matter with the Government,” he said.

United Railways Front president P.S. Rajitha said the ordinary people would suffer the most as they would not be able to cope with the cost of living. “We have seen an increase in the number of people travelling by train as they cannot afford to travel in their private vehicles or in three-wheelers,” he said.

He said that normally up to 300,000 passengers travel by train every day and that total has now increased by about 10%.

He also said the railway found it difficult to cope with the increased number of passengers as there were not enough trains running.

“The Government has promised to provide more engines next year but for now we have to cope with the increased influx of passengers,” he said.

The travel industry and travel agencies have also been greatly affected due to the fuel hikes as their commission has been reduced by the airlines to offset the increased expenses on fuel. Classic Travels CEO Suresh Mendis told The Sunday Times that when the fuel prices rise, the fuel surcharge, which passengers have to pay in addition to the air fare, is increased.

However, due to competitive pricing, fares are reduced to compensate for the increase in the fuel surcharge, he said.

“Because we receive 7% as commission for each ticket and we don’t get any profit from the fuel surcharge, we receive less commission when the fuel prices increase,” he said. He also said the fuel surcharge had risen by about 30% in the last year and a half.

Apart from the transport sector, fishermen have suffered heavily since they find it difficult to operate due to rising fuel expenses.

All Island Fishermen’s Association treasurer W.C. Fernando told The Sunday Times that a year ago a fisherman earned up to Rs. 30,000 a month with fuel and operating expenses costing about Rs. 18,000 a month leaving Rs. 12,000 as income.

But now this expense alone has risen to almost Rs. 30,000 rupees per month leaving almost nothing to take home, he said.

“We cannot cope with the rising cost of living. We organized a poster campaign and also wrote numerous letters to the authorities but nothing has been done,” he said.

He said fish have also become scarce and only around 10% of fishermen will be lucky enough to get a sizable catch.

“We are in severe debt and have no way of paying our debts because we have little income,” he said.

He also said leaders of fishermen’s organizations are scheduled to meet next Sunday to discuss what measures should be taken regarding this problem.