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| Sunday, 26 October 2003 |
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Politics |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Arbitration Commission to tackle TU woes by Don Asoka Wijewardena Moves are under way to set up an 'Independent Arbitration Commission' (Berumkara Mandalaya) to intervene and reduce trade union grievances before they reach "strike" stage and disrupt daily life. Minister of Public Administration, Management and Reforms, Vajira Abyewardena is expected to seek Cabinet approval for the establishment of an Independent Arbitration Commission, during the next couple of weeks. Public sector trade unions have all too often resorted to 'strike action' to rectify their grievances and achieve their demands,often at the expense of public convenience. Trade Unions belonging to health and transport sector representing two of the essential services are accused of being the worst culprits. Presidents,Vice Presidents and Secretaries of 17 trade union federations representing 6972 public sector trade unions met Minister of Public Administration, Management and Reforms, Vajira Abyewardena, Minister of Tourism Gamini Lokuge and Deputy Minister of Local Government, Home Affairs and Provincial Councils Earl Gunasekera last week to put forward their request to set up an independent arbitration commission, which could solve emerging problems affecting the employees in the public sector. Minister Abeywardena said that the leaders of the trade union federation had strongly requested the government to appoint the commission so that trade unions could discuss and put forward their demands or grievances. The commission could recommend to the government the action to be taken with respective unions. He said that the Commission would be politically unbiased and would make independent decisions, and pointed out, as an example, that instead of increasing salaries of the public sector employees on an ad hoc basis, the commission could recommend periodical salary increments, promotions and transfers. Minister Abeywardena commented that the public sector administration needed to be streamlined and it should be brought into a position where it is done in a very methodical manner instead of taking hasty decisions. He said that anomalies in different professions needed to be eradicated and policy formulations and implementation in proper manner would remove administrative stumbling-blocks in the public administration. |
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