Over 40 unions take part in tomorrow’s trade union action

Strikes, protest marches, reporting sick, and wearing black will be among trade union actions to be taken tomorrow (01).

Over 40 unions take part in tomorrow’s trade union action on a series of issues including the postponement of local government elections and to call for the removal of taxes.

Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers' Union said teachers and principals will wear black bands and be dressed in black when they report to work tomorrow.

Chinthaka Bandara representing trade unions in state and semi-government institutions said their members will stay away from work tomorrow.

A spokesman for Port Unions Niroshan Gorakanage said port workers will go on a 24 hour strike starting from 7.00 am tomorrow.

Ranjan Jayalal of the Ceylon Electricity Board Union said that their union members too would tomorrow's strike.

However, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Secretary Dr Haritha Aluthge told a news conference that they would mark their protest tomorrow, but not resort to trade union action.

He said they will be protesting in 16 locations tomorrow.

Dr Aluthge said tht due to the protest, some of the normal services may be affected.

"We do not believe that the authorities are sensitive to resolve the issues due to a one day strike. We hav to take more decisive action in future," he said. 

The unions vow to strike despite many services being declared as essential services in a gazette issued yesterday.

 “President Ranil Wickremesinghe signed a Gazette notification a short while ago declaring public transports services for passengers or goods, discharge, carriage, landing, storage, delivery and removal of articles of food or drink, or coal, oil, fuel from vessels within any port as defined for the purposes of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235),  the provision and maintenance of facilities for transport services by road, rail or air, including roads, bridges, culverts, airports, ports and railway lines, as essential services with immediate effect,” the President’s Media Division said. 

Dr Haritha Aluthge, Secreatry of he GMOA addressing a press conference..  Ravi Kumadesh, President of the  Association of Health Professionals also present.