SLT wins court order against strike

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), obtained an enjoining order from the Colombo District Court against trade unions which were preparing to strike.

SLT filed legal action on January 8 in the District Court of Colombo against 18 trade unions, who had given notice to the company of their intention to proceed with strike action.

The SLT’s Legal Department said in a press release that the company had sought a court order “preventing members of the unions from strike action, entering into locations under the ownership or custody of the company and/or preventing such members from engaging in sabotage action and/or insulting/ disturbing employees who carry on their duties without engaging in strike action and/or forcing employees who carry on their duties without engaging in strike action to come out, while the strike is going on." Notice was issued on the trade unions returnable on January 22. SLT said the joint 18 telecom trade unions began their strike on December 1 saying that the management of Sri Lanka Telecom had failed to grant their four main demands.

Furthermore they also complained that neither reasonable salary structure nor a proper scheme promotion was maintained at SLT and that the appointments given were made for political reasons only.