SriLankan Airlines’ Collective Agreement with largest employee union

The agreement covers salary scales, benefits, incentives, and other aspects of staff in non-executive grades. “We encourage other companies to have collective agreements which are long-lasting and sustainable. These will provide industrial peace and allow companies greater stability for financial planning. The government should inculcate this culture across all industries,” said Lesley Devendra, General Secretary SLNSS.

SriLankan Airlines has signed a three year Collective Agreement with its largest employee union, the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, whose membership includes a majority of the airline’s 5,500 employees.

The airline already has similar Collective Agreements with its other unions, including the Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka, the Flight Attendants Union, the Association of Licensed Aircraft Engineers, the SriLankan Airlines Aircraft Technicians Association, the Manual & Mercantile Workers Union in Singapore, and the Foreign Airlines Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia.

Sunil Dissanayake, Head of Human Resources said: “This Collective Agreement will certainly serve to enhance the relationship between the management and staff of the company. Negotiations were carried out in a very cordial and conducive atmosphere with the negotiating team of SLNSS, displaying professionalism and maturity.”

The agreement covers salary scales, benefits, incentives, and other aspects of staff in non-executive grades. “We encourage other companies to have collective agreements which are long-lasting and sustainable. These will provide industrial peace and allow companies greater stability for financial planning. The government should inculcate this culture across all industries,” said Lesley Devendra, General Secretary SLNSS. “The SLNSS will give its fullest co-operation to increase productivity.”

The agreement was signed on behalf of the airline by Vipula Gunatilleke, Chief Financial Officer (representing the CEO), Sunil Dissanayake, Head of Human Resources, and Ali Kamil, Manager Human Resources. The SLNSS was represented by Lesley Devendra, General Secretary SLNSS, Jeyaraj Palihawadana, General Secretary SLNSS SriLankan Branch, and K.A.W. Fernando, Chief Organiser SLNSS SriLankan Branch.