Multi-sectoral token strike held, continuation halted
The islandwide token strike launched yesterday (15) by the Professionals’ Trade Union Alliance (PTUA) against the Government’s recent tax policy hikes, increased electricity tariffs and interest rates, and anomalies in salaries, crippled a multitude of essential services affiliated with many crucial sectors including health, ports, postal, banking, transport, education and higher education, and water supply.
Members of the trade unions of health professionals, including the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and the All Ceylon Nurses’ Union, had not reported to hospitals yesterday, supporting the strike, while cancer, maternal and nephrology hospitals continued with operations as usual, The Daily Morning learned. The employees of laboratory services as well as junior staff members of hospitals have supported the strike. Speaking to the media, College of Medical Laboratory Science President Ravi Kumudesh said yesterday that the trade union action was very successful and that they would continue the strike further if the Government attempted to control them by using its power without providing solutions for their demands.
The Daily Morning, meanwhile, learned that a low student turnout was observed in many schools yesterday, as the trade unions of teachers and principals and university teachers, including the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, the Principal Grade Officers’ Association, and the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations had pledged support for the token strike.
The Railways Department General Manager W.A.D.S. Gunasinghe said that 21 trains had operated by 8 a.m. last morning for the convenience of the public despite the union action. He also confirmed that several trains on the Main line, the Coastal line, the Kelani Valley line, and the Puttalam line operated yesterday with help of railway employees.
Meanwhile, a tense situation arose at the Colombo Port yesterday between the Port workers and the administration when the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) informed the workers to get back to work. It was reported that workers engaged in the strike had demonstrated their opposition to the request made by the SLPA Chairman following which a heated argument had taken place. It was also seen that the Navy had been deployed on the Port premises.
Multiple trade unions in the power sector, including the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Engineers’ Union and the CEB Employees’ Union, had not reported to work yesterday, reporting sick leave, in order to support the token strike of the PTUA.
In the meantime, employees of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board had decided to withdraw from maintenance work yesterday.
In a situation where a gazette notification had been issued by the President’s Secretary making the postal service an essential service, the Postal and Telecommunication Services Union and the United Postal Services Trade Union Front had continued with their 24-hour token strike at all post offices, sub-post offices, head offices, main control offices, and the Central Mail Exchange.
Yet, the Government said that many public sector institutions were operative yesterday to provide services to the people, despite the 24-hour token strike launched by the PTUA.
Sri Lanka Transport Board Chairman Lalith de Alwis confirmed that all 107 depots were operating as per the regular timetable.
General Managers of the Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank said that the majority of their branches were fully operational with attendance reported at over 75%.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, former Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Parliamentarian and incumbent Party Politburo Member Sunil Handunnetti said that all trade unions affiliated with their party had pledged support for the strike held yesterday while the decision on the question of whether they would continue the strike would be made according to the Government’s response. He said that it was the same idea that his colleague, former MP and incumbent Party Politburo Member K.D. Lal Kantha had wanted to convey. Handunnetti also noted that their party would not accept the GMOA’s firm decision to continue the strike, thus leaving innocent patients in trouble.
However, National Trade Union Centre National Organiser Wasantha Samarasinghe, at a media briefing participated in by all trade union leaders who supported the strike, informed yesterday that they had decided yesterday to temporarily halt the token strike by this morning (16)