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Tourist drivers threaten to strike
View(s):By Sonja Candappa
Tourist drivers threaten to go on strike if their demand for an increase in allowances and charges is further ignored.“A strike may be our only solution,” said Srilal Munasinghe, president of the Chauffeur Tourist Guides Lecturers Association (CTGLA).
The association is demanding a Rs. 10 increase per kilometer charge, as well as Rs. 1,000 for a day’s food-and-lodging expenses, and Rs. 500 for guide rates. Travel agents have so far not responded to the demand.
At present, drivers are paid Rs. 26.50 rupees a kilometer. Increased fuel prices, together with high insurance and maintenance costs, force tourist drivers to incur a loss of between Rs. 10 and Rs. 15 a day per kilometer, Mr. Munasinghe said.
The association approached P. B Jayasundara, Treasury Secretary, about the purchase of duty-free vehicles. The association believes that drivers working for the tourism industry are entitled to duty-free vehicles.
Mr. Munasinghe has also held discussions with the President and the Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa.
“It is below our dignity to get on the streets and launch strike action,” Mr. Munasinghe told the Sunday Times. “A strike will cripple the industry for a day, but the travel agents have left us no choice. We know the government can’t get too involved because this is private ownership. However, we cannot go on incurring daily losses. Unless our demands are addressed, we will be launching strike action.”
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