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| Sunday, 8 February 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Govt. agrees to cancel Authority Trains still off track By Deepal Warnakulasuriya The Railway strike continued for the 12th consecutive day yesterday, despite Government efforts to reach an agreement with the striking unions on Friday night. Transport Minister Thilak Marapana, Railway Authority Chairman P. H. Manatunga and several other Ministers at a discussion with the United Railways Trade Union Alliance on Friday agreed to rescind the Authority and have the Railways Department functioning for an interim period of two years. But, the Railway Supervisory Managers Trade Unions Alliance and the Organisation for the Protection of the Railway Properties and Rights of Railway Employees in a press briefing yesterday said that their trade unions, with over 13,000 employees had not accepted the Government proposal and will continue with the strike till the Authority is cancelled. Sumathipala Manawadu, Convenor, Organisation for the Protection of the Railway Properties and Rights of Railway Employees said that they had rejected Government proposal's to appoint a Competent Authority. However, K. V. Jayasena, Convenor, United Railways Trade Union Alliance told the Sunday Observer that they had decided to call off the strike following the pledge by the Authority to solve the woes of the employees. The Alliance, on Friday, signed a MoU with the Government, agreeing to call off the strike and resume work. Several other trade unions charged that the United Railways Trade Union Alliance had betrayed the strike action and rejected the MoU. They also vowed to continue with the strike, until all their demands are met. Manawadu said that they had handed over a set of proposals to the relevant officials and unless they receive a positive response, they would stage an indefinite fast in front of the Railways Headquarters from Monday morning. The cancellation of the Railway Authority Gazette notification for two years and a parliamentary process to cancel the Authority Act within the period are the major demands in their proposal, along with the establishment of the Railways Department and an assurance that no revenge will be taken on the strikers protecting their rights. The organisation has also given a timeframe to the Government for the cancellation process, and has requested the right to go to Courts, if the Government does not keep to its pledge. Manawadu said that with more than 13,000 employees the organisation was strong enough to continue with the strike and threatened an indefinite fast if the Government fails to agree to their demands. The trade union which came to an agreement with the Government on Friday comprising controllers, guards, station masters and locomotive drivers said that they would be able to provide a satisfactory service to the commuters. However according to sources at the main Control Room in Maradana, the whole signal system is out of order, as it had been manned by trainees the last few days. |
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