LTTE welcome strikes and turmoil:

Doctors and nurses urged not to play into Tiger hands
 

by Ananda Kannangara

The Sunday Observer last week sought the views of the public on the work to rule campaigns and strikes, very often organised by the government sector trade unions which disrupt the day to day activities. Below are the excerpts of the interviews.

A mercantile sector executive Dhanushka Mahawatta said considering the present day security situation in the country, this is not a time to disrupt the day to day activities of innocent people." He was not against any of the work stoppage campaign or a strike organised by workers, because they do these things to win their demands and not against government.

A retired executive Nimalasiri Punchihewa of Hanwella requested workers both in the public and private sectors not to engage in strikes at this moment, since the Northern terrorists will reap benefits from such activities,".

Kanthi Pushpalatha of Hanwella said "Normally employees in the public and private sector have official problems, but to my mind, they must deal with higher officials and try to solve them amicably rather than resorting to strikes since, strikes or work to rule campaigns definitely cripple the economy.

A school principal Daya Wimalasiri of Kotuwegoda, Matara said

"I do not condone the two day strike organised by Health Department officials last week,"

"In developed or developing countries other than in Sri Lanka, I have not heard about workers, attached to health sectors, engaging in strikes, because health service is considered an essential service,".

He therefore requested health sector officials and workers, especially doctors and nurses in the Government sector not to play with the lives of poor patients.

A Secretary of a foreign bank, Sandamali Rupasinghe of Nadimala, Dehiwala said "I think the best thing the employees could do is to discuss their problems with respective Ministers without engaging in strikes,".

An executive in a mercantile establishment, Buddhika Fernando said that workers should sort out their employment matters amicably with the hierarchy,"

A university student Kamal Abeyagunasekara of Nittambuwa said that employees should not resort to strike action when forces are engaging in a fierce battle with the LTTE to safeguard the country's territorial integrity.

"Strikers must know that terrorists welcome demonstrations and turmoil in the South,"

A retired District Medical Officer Ramaiya Ganeshan of Nikaweratiya asked Health Department workers, especially doctors, nurses and paramedics should not indulge in strikes, work stoppages or work to rule campaigns over their salaries or any other issue.

"For example, if the health workers were on strike, what would have been the plight of the victims of last week's bomb explosions of Nugegoda and Colombo when they were brought into the Kalubowila and the Colombo National hospitals?"

He lauded the efforts of medical officials and the labourers who rendered an invaluable and commendable service to save the lives of those injured on that unfortunate day.

An attorney-at-law Harendra Dissanayaka of Piliyandala urged the Government to impose a law on Health Department workers, Postal, Transport and Electricity Board workers to refrain from engaging in strikes, since their services are essential like the Police Department.

"During my two year stint in Nigeria, I found that workers, attached to health, education, transport, power and water supply sections in that country were prohibited from engaging in strikes or similar activities which disrupt the day today activities,".

Mohamed Aslam of Colombo said "I appeal to public servants not to indulge in strikes, especially at this juncture, considering the present situation in the country as the Government has to do a better job in the North to protect territorial integrity.

A mother of two, Kanthilatha Wickremesinghe of Borelasgamuwa said

"I am not talking about the strikes in all public sector institutions, other than in the health sector, because the doctors have been given enough privileges by the Government to engage in private practice,". "Therefore, the Government must stop doctors or teachers engaging in strikes or work to rule campaigns,".

An executive in a private company, Lakmali Hettiaratchchi "I appeal to public and private sector workers, especially those who are in the Health sector, transport and in the Electricity Board not to indulge in strikes, since this is not the time for them to do such activities.

A teledrama producer Saman Chandraratna said that unlike in the private sector, there is a big gap in the salaries among employees in the public sector and this situation too has been a cause for strikes in Government Departments very often.

Gayantha Warnakulasooriya of Ganemulla said "True, people have employment problems, but the problems cannot be solved by engaging in strikes,".

"I think, they must discuss with their respective Ministers and solve their problem amicably,".

A typist in a Government Department, Kamalika de Silva also said that large differences between salaries of ordinary workers and executives have caused disputes which had led to strike action.

"In my office the Commissioner is drawing a monthly salary of

Rs. 42,000, plus fuel allocation, but being a graduate and having 17 years service with a good knowledge of both Sinhala and English, I get a monthly salary of R. 13,800. "So, it is not wrong to resort to strikes over our salary issue,"

A labourer in the Health Department, Gemunu Perera said: "Majority of the people in the public sector enaage in strikes, demanding better salaries due to the high cost of living in the country.

"My view is that it is not wrong, when considering enormous salaries drawn by parliamentarians,"

He said there was no other way to demanding salaries other than engaging in strikes,"

A CTB, bus conductor, S.A. Kamal said "Our country is at a war, therefore it is wrong to engage in strikes demanding to increase salaries,".

"But, unfortunately our parliamentarians do not think like us, we are aware that they get their salaries increased in addition to other privileges,".

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