Govt. warns of stern action if strike not called off by Monday

26 September 2019 07:31 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 5 Bookmark

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Stern action will have to be taken against those behind the trade union action if they do not call off the strike by Monday, State Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Ashok Abeysinghe said today.

He told a media briefing at the Transport Ministry that the people would curse the railway strikers for the unjust strike and also assured that more SLTB buses and private buses would be deployed near train stations to provide alternate transport for the commuters during the strike.

"The railway TUs had earlier requested their salaries to be increased from RM-1 to RM-2 grade. Increasing the salaries of railway employers will have a negative effect on the salary structure of 519,000 state employees," the State Minister said, adding that the President had appointed the 15-member Ranukge Committee headed by S. Ranukge to rectify salary anomalies.

"In such a scenario it is unreasonable to continue the strike," he said. "Neither the Railways General Manager or the Transport Ministry were informed about the TU action in writing. No reasons were given either other than informing the media."

The State Minister said the salaries of public servants were increased by Rs.10,000 after this government came to power and later it was increased by another Rs.2,500, altogether a 107% increase.

Railway TUs launched an indefinite strike action from Thursday night claiming that the authorities had failed to rectify their salary anomalies. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Comments - 5

Upul Thursday, 26 September 2019 08:18 PM

Why do you wait till Monday? Do you not see the inconvenience of the public? Take a stern action now. I do not think you have a backbone to do that.

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Sambo Thursday, 26 September 2019 08:56 PM

I think any government that comes to power should re think their strategy have an option by training our dear forces as these morons are holding the public at ransom as and when they want.

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samson Thursday, 26 September 2019 10:05 PM

If strike not called off, you cannot do much

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Dee Thursday, 26 September 2019 10:11 PM

Ah. Ah. Wrong! Only GR can do that. You can't make em dissappear? Can you?

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Sambo Friday, 27 September 2019 08:03 AM

Please serve them with letters of termination as a gift from the public.

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