Railway strike continues until tomorow's cabinet meeting: Trade Unions

The railway trade unions yesterday decided to continue their strike action as the discussions held with the subcommittee failed, the Railway Professional Trade Union Alliance Convener Janaka Fernando said today.

He said the decision was taken following the meeting held with the subcommittee appointed to look into salary anomalies issue last evening. The Cabinet sub-committee had decided to present the demands of the railways' trade unions during today's cabinet meeting while requesting to make the Railways Department as a Close Department.

"By making the Railways as a close Department, there would be no interactions with any other departments. If the salary anomalies solved in the railways' department, it will not affect to the other departments," Mr. Fernando said.

He said the Treasury under the Finance Ministry did not agree with our demands. Therefore, the trade unions had decided to continue the strike until the cabinet paper is presented to the cabinet and until the treasury gives a favourable response in this regard, Mr. Fernando said.

The cabinet sub-committee is comprised of the Finance Deputy Minister, Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Minister Vajira Abeywardena and Minister Rajitha Senaratne. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)