In a move to prevent a breakdown in fuel distribution due to a proposed work-to-rule campaign by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) trade unions from Wednesday, the Government yesterday invited union leaders for talks tomorrow.
Petroleum Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said the invitation for talks was extended to the unions at a meeting held with them on Friday night.
He said tomorrow’s talks on demands for an immediate pay increase would be held with him and Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundara.
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However, CPC union leader D.J. Rajakaruna said yesterday they wanted unions of the Ports Authority, the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Water also to join tomorrow’s talks.
The unions in those three key sectors also have threatened to go on a work-to-rule campaign from Wednesday, causing a disruption in the supply of water, electricity and essential goods.
Until last evening, no invitation has been extended to the other unions. “If the other unions are not invited for talks, we will request the CPC unions also not to take part,” Ports Authority Joint trade union President Chandrasiri Mahagamage said.
Union representatives of the four sectors are due to explain their position at a news conference in Colombo today.
The unions are demanding an overdue salary increase for their members with effect from January this year while President Mahinda Rajapaksa has promised to give a pay hike from January next year. He said the pay hike would be effective from this month. But the unions have rejected the offer.
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