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Unions weigh pluses and minuses of budget proposals
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Trade unions have expressed mixed reactions to budget proposals, with some claiming that their respective sectors have been neglected while others are satisfied.
The government remains steadfast on the proposals, regardless of diverging opinions.
The Sunday Times also observed there are more allocations for the state sector employees, yet benefits were less for the private sector employees. Proposals on private sector salary increases were not mentioned.
Trade unions of various sectors took different approaches in response to the budget while the budget debate continued in Parliament.
Teacher unions, though divided, were unhappy, as the salary anomaly had not got attention.
Ceylon Teachers Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin told the Sunday Times that the government did not make any mention about rectifying the salary anomalies or providing the remaining two-thirds of the salary increase.
He said the political party which joined teachers to protest to win them their demands would not discuss salary anomalies.
Mr Stalin is sceptical that the anomalies would at least be addressed in the 2030 budget. The president, who had said anomalies can’t be discussed until 2027, had appointed a committee of experts to decide on the due amounts.
He said a protest will be planned against the extension of school times on December 12, and the salary matter is also one of their demands.
Graded Principals Association’s General Secretary Nimal Mudunkotuwa said teachers and principals only asked to rectify the salary anomalies, not a salary increase.
He added that pro-government teacher unions who protested with the teachers had achieved their goal and now threaten teachers. If those unionists remain in opposition, they would be the first to protest against the extension of the school timetable.
The Government Medical Officers Association gave an ultimatum to the government to restore their vehicle permits before Monday, or else they would resort to protests and union actions.
The Assistant Secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association, Dr Hansamal Wijesuriya, explained that the government has completely overlooked the consultants and medical doctors.
He said that doctors on call would have to reach a hospital multiple times and be available for emergencies, and they need vehicles.
“We do not know how to work with a government which fails to understand that doctors cannot reach hospitals on time in buses or bicycles,” he said.
He said that the politicians would be given double cabs on the grounds of increasing the efficiency of their work. But vehicle permits for doctors were cancelled, reducing their efficiency.
Dr Wijesuriya said specialists who had left the country would be sceptical about returning when their benefits are reduced rapidly.
The President of the Joint Committee of Government Executive Officers, A.H.L. Udayasiri, said that 1,775 double cabs are for legislators and for the state sector.
But with fuel, maintenance and insurance, he compared the benefit to issuing a permit to legislators.
He said executive officers are given vehicles to increase productivity, and legislators are given vehicles on the same basis. So senior officials are restless because the government has failed to take a positive step related to their privileges.
The state and private sector bus operators offered contrasting sentiments. State sector unions praised allocations, while the private bus operators union said there is no relief or incentives. They said importing buses is impractical.
All Island transport workers union said Rs 3.6b has been allocated to import 600 buses.
The General Secretary of the Association, Sepala Liyanage, said funds have been allocated to repair 307 buses, in addition to imports. Another Rs 790 million had been set aside for spare parts and equipment.
He said the total allocation is Rs 21.6b for the state transport sector to improve services.
Private bus owners did not share the same sentiment, as they view the government as only favouring the state sector.
Private Bus Owners Association President Gamunu Wijeratne told the Sunday Times that though there were allocations for buses for the Sri Lanka Transport Board, there are no allocations for private sector public transport.
“I don’t believe the budget; I am sceptical as to how far proposals would be implemented,” he said.
He claimed that although the government says 600 buses will be imported for the state sector, not even 60 could be imported with funds allocated.
Postal trade unions expressed displeasure over the budget.
The president of the Lanka postal services union said that the employees who had been recruited seven to eight years back had not been made permanent; however, from this budget, the casual or substitute worker who exceeded six months of service would be made permanent. He said that the postal service is operating at a loss.
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