News
Displeasure over electricity worker wage gap strike
Electricity workers stopping work for a day last week were being “unreasonable’’, while efforts had been underway to narrow salary gaps that unions have complained about, the government said.
Power and Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said two months ago he had set up a five member committee to examine ways to fix salary discrepancies. The committee has asked for six months to present a proposal. “I have already informed them of this and it is wrong for them to strike at this time,’’ he said.
Mr Siyambalapitya said he had directed the panel to study the National Water Supply and Drainage Board and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
He said that considering that there are more than 25,000 workers, the issue is complicated.
Meanwhile, the CEB Joint Trade Union Alliance, claimed that the 24-hour token strike was successful since more than 20,000 workers participated.
General secretary, Ranjan Jayalal, said the CEB was not able to repair several breakdowns reported around the country.
He said that on Friday when the staff reported to work, more than 1,000 breakdowns had to be handled. “There were 15 major breakdowns including in Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, Ginigathhena, Waththegama, Kadawatha, Ampara and Hambantota. Our workers are now attending to the repairs,’’ he said.
The CEB workers want salary disparities between management and themselves be narrowed.
Mr Jayalal attributed the salary gap to a gazette notice which introduced a new pay scale.
He said that six months is a long time to solve the matter and that it was only an attempt to buy time. “Why they did not consider the other sectors when increasing the salaries of management,” he asked.
Meanwhile, a complaint is to be filed against the CEB for its decision to call for an explanation by letter from staff who had applied for sick leave and participated in the strike action on March 15.
“They have asked for an explanation for not reporting to work. We are planning to complain to the Human Rights Commission. Reporting sick is a right,’’ Mr Jayalal said.