JSS membership falls sharply
View(s):The Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS), which is unofficially connected to the opposition United National Party (UNP), seems to be afflicted with the same concerns faced by the UNP – dwindling membership.
The union, once one of the most powerful and oldest trade union organisations in the country when the UNP was governing at its peak in the 1980s, has seen its membership slump to just 25,000 these days from a peak of 400,000.
JSS General Secretary Sirinal De Mel, dismissed speculation that the union was having some difficulties, saying: “Yes our numbers have reduced but that often happens when the party (UNP) is not in power. We are still very active.”
Speculation over its future grew when the services of some JSS officials were terminated. Asked to respond, Mr. De Mel said that 12 officials who had reached the age of 70 years with 45 years of services were discontinued based on their age while there are still 20 officials on the staff.
The JSS was set up by UNP leader, the late J.R. Jayewardene in the late 1950s. Veteran trade unionists say that many of those whose services were terminated were organisers at various institutions which means it affects the work of the JSS in future.