Unions glove up for another bout with officialdom

A collective of unions is preparing for further trade union action next week, saying their demands related to the higher tax burden and livelihood issues remain unanswered.

The Professional Trade Union Alliance is to hold a meeting tomorrow to make a decision as discussed at a meeting on Friday.

Unions say that a meeting had been promised by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, but this had not happened. Mr Wickremesinghe had sent a letter to the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and promised a date for talks on or before March 22.

The GMOA has written to the Presidential Secretariat. Spokesman Chamil Wijesinghe, told the Sunday Times: “If the Government is attempting to escape or ignore providing a solution, we will go for further actions.

“If the Government is replying to us politically instead of professionally, we will take necessary actions as well.’’

Shyama Banneheka the president of the Federation of University Teachers Association, which also belongs to the Professional Trade Union Alliance, asked: “If the Government cannot keep a simple promise, how can we trust the Government?”

“We had taken a positive approach to the

Government, but they are backing away now.’’

He said the union does not want to continue strikes but that activities had not been completely stopped.

Ceylon Bank Employees Union head Channa Dissanayake, said the Government’s delay in responding is being viewed “neutrally”, since officials are also busy with the IMF.

“But, I do not think delaying discussions is also good,’’ he said, adding that they would be engaging in collective trade union action with unions of the trade union alliance, if the Government does not respond positively.

The general secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Service Union, Mahinda Jayasinghe, asked: “The President [Ranil Wickremesinghe] is asking trade unions to speak to the IMF. If we have to do that, then why should there be a President?”

The chairman of the Locomotive Operating Engineers Union, K. A. U. Konthasinghe, said a decision to join or not, is being weighed.

If the alliance decides to strike next week, he said he would ask the executive committee to take a decision. “However, we are with the voice of the people against [higher] taxes.’’

The president of the Technological Engineers and Superintendents Union of the Ceylon Electricity Board, A. G. U. Nishantha, said the union is considering involvement in the protests.

The union had met with the Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekara, last Sunday and presented their demands on tariffs.

“The electricity bill has a cost reflective tariff, and the cost can be pruned if the mismanagement within the CEB is solved, instead of attempting to sell it,’’ Mr. Nishantha said.

If the Government is attempting to escape or ignore providing a solution, we will go for further actions.

They had discussed the costs of each method of electricity production, the inefficiency of introducing non-conventional renewable energy, and the increasing “electricity poverty” in Sri Lanka.

Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena addressing a press conference on Thursday said trade unions have been told to wait for six to seven months until the IMF facility’s second tranche is negotiated.