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| Sunday, 1 February 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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by Deepal Warnakulasuriya The week-long railway trade union strike and the death fast began by the health workers is threatening to balloon into a general strike that would cripple the economy and bring life to a standstill. Already, several trade unions have given notice of impending strike action to show their solidarity with the striking railway and health workers, and also to agitate for their individual demands. The Railway trade unions continuing with their strike for the 5th successive day have threatened a death fast at the Ministry premises if the government fails to respond favourably to their demands. The strike has inconvenienced thousands of rail commuters and disrupted office schedules. The Organisation for the Protection of the Properties and Rights of Railway Employees Convenor Sumathipala Manawadu said that the discussions the Government had with the Railway Trade unions had failed. He said that they agreed only to empower the General Manager of Railways while the Authority Director Board is functioning in office. He also said that although they promised to secure the jobs of the employees, the Authority had not been able to explain its plans. Sumathipala further pointed out that if the country could amend its Constitution, cancellation of a gazette notification should not be a problem. The United Railways Trade Union Alliance comprising controllers, guards, station masters and locomotive drivers commenced the strike at midnight, January 26, demanding that a gazette notification be issued that the Railway an Authority be repealed. The strike began with the participation of over 30 trade unions, and by Friday the number of unions joining the strike had reached 90. Meanwhile, Transport Minister Thilak Marapana told the Sunday Observer that the government would be attending to the matter and that the employees would be assured job security within the Authority. He said that the Attorney General had expressed that the subject Minister had no powers to invalidate a gazette notification and therefore, another method of solving the problem be found. Meanwhile, members of the Health Services Trade Unions Alliance (HSTUA) who commenced their death-fast in front of the Health Ministry on January 26 have also threatened to continue with their action until their demands are met. Several other trade unions in the health sector have also confirmed that they would be joining the HSTUA. Concerned sources said that if this trend continues, the possibility of a collapse in the health sector would be imminent, and have urged the government to act prudently in finding solutions to their problems. Discussions at the Prime Minister's office on Friday night to try to find an amicable solution to the Health employees' issue failed with proposals to amend the salary anomaly by the HSTUA being rejected. The striking health workers have decided to continue with the strike until their problems are addressed adequately. Government hospitals were unable to provide a satisfactory service to patients by Friday as the minor staff had also joined in the strike. Public Sector Trade Union Committee President W.H. Piyadasa has written to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting him to intervene as a last resort, or else the Union would call upon other Government sector Trade Unions to join hands with them. The letter has also pointed out that the decision of the Authority would not bring any benefit to the country but would speed the selling of the assets of the country to foreigners. The Sunday Observer also learns that the Public Service Trade Union Federation (PSTUF), the Ceylon Federation of Labour, Colombo Mercantile Union, Sri Lanka Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) and several other union leaders had discussed the possibility of launching a general strike in the country to win their demands if the government fails to act swiftly. Several trade union leaders contacted by the Sunday Observer said that they would join the strike to pressurise the government and claimed that the trade unions in the private sector would also join them. They further said that they would also urge the government to withdraw the Compensation Formula introduced in the Employees Termination Act and to ensure a pay hike of Rs. 2000. A railway union member said that 99 per cent of railway unions had joined them and would continue their strike to safeguard the country's properties. He also said that they had written to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarantunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to look into the matter. They have also written to the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas requesting them to advise the concerned authorities to solve the problems faced by the workers without aggravating the situation. Meanwhile, the farmers' fast and picketing campaign in demand of additional fertiliser subsidy which commenced on January 19 at Anuradhapura continues. The Inland Revenue Department is also likely to resort to strike action demanding that the government address their problems. The duties of the Inland Revenue were disturbed last Friday with employees on sick leave. |
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