The National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) will conduct a series of district level seminars starting tomorrow, September 28 to inform people of the NTUC’s decision to take trade union action if the government does not increase public and private sector salaries.

NTUC’s Spokesman Samantha Koralearachchi said the union will continue to demand for an salary increase of Rs.10,000 for public sector workersand a 40% increase for private sector employees.

“We are conducting these seminars to create awareness among people as this is an issue that has affected everyone and they will all benefit from this if the salary increments come through,” Koralearachchi said. The first seminar will be held tomorrow (September 28), in Colombo and the next will be held in Kurunegala on September 29.

The NTUC requested the government to increase salaries in July but the demands were not met. He said the union has demanded for salary increments before the budget but said they would consider the government’s decision to increase salaries in the 2012 budget.
 “We will go on strike if the government does not pat heed to our demands,” he said.  (Olindhi Jayasundere)