Several state sector trade unions continued their protest action this week, calling in sick to demand a salary increase of Rs 10,000. About 49 trade unions have been taking part in coordinated protest action since November 29 while the Federation of Health Professionals (FHP) and the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) have also launched [...]

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As prices skyrocket, TUs justify trade union action; Govt. in dilemma

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Several state sector trade unions continued their protest action this week, calling in sick to demand a salary increase of Rs 10,000.

About 49 trade unions have been taking part in coordinated protest action since November 29 while the Federation of Health Professionals (FHP) and the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) have also launched trade union action.

“There have been no salary increments after 2015 and it is the Government’s duty to ensure a fair wage is given to public servants,” insisted Udeni Dissanayake, President of the All Ceylon Management Service Officers Union.

He said the cost of living was skyrocketing and, therefore, trade unions had no option but to take part in protest action, setting a December 10 deadline for the Government to respond.

“We now hope to have an answer by January, at least,” Mr Dissanayake said, warning of serious consequences if the Government failed to heed their call.

The Joint Postal Trade Union Alliance Convener Chinthaka Bandara said the union conveyed its requests to the Finance Minister when asked for its input for the 2022 Budget. He said the union was aware of the country’s economic crisis but if ministers could get what they wanted, the demands of the the working class must also be met.

“If our demands are not met, we will resort to a general strike,” Mr. Bandara warned.

A high-ranking government official, who did not want to be named, said that since the Budget had already been passed, it was unlikely the demands of the state-sector could be met.

He said that in the middle of an economic crisis, the Government’s revenue proposal could not accommodate additional costs to meet salary increases.

The official said that raising taxes was one option, but it would aggravate the problems the people were facing. “Trade unions must understand that issues have multiple perspectives,” he said, pointing out that they trade unions would earn the public wrath if they continued their protests which would only worsen the problems the people were facing.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Health Professionals said that as part of its trade union action it was not cooperating with the Government with regard to the requirement to furnish data on epidemic and non-epidemic diseases.

Its co-convener Saman Rathnapriya said they were demanding that the Government to implement the recommendations of the ‘Ranukge’ committee report and a Rs 10,000 allowance increment.

On Wednesday and Thursday, in the North Central and Central provinces, the union members took part in picketing campaigns. Such protest action would be held in other provinces as well, the union leader said.

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the Ministry was doing its best to accommodate the demands of health professionals. “There are a few areas that need to be revisited and changed but, by and large, much of the union action is not reasonable,” he said.

The unions should also understand the country’s economic situation at a time when no country was in a situation to help others because of the pandemic and global economic crisis. “Therefore, certain sacrifices need to be made,” he said.

But he also said he did not expect the health sector to make such sacrifices as it had tackled the pandemic commendably well.

Also taking part in trade union action are power and energy sector trade unions. The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union is asking, among other things, that there be transparency in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) tender process and the sale of Yugadanavi power plant shares.

CEBEU Joint Secretary Dhammika Wimalaratne said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during a meeting this week had given the union a positive response, but the relevant officials were yet implement his instructions.

He warned that the union would continue with its non-cooperation policy until its demands were met.

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