Trade Unions to go ahead with Wednesday strike, no response from Govt

Trade Unions have vowed to go ahead with tomorrow’s general strike, with no solution offered by the Government.

The Postal workers are launching the strike from today evening while the railway workers are set to stay off from work from midnight.

Several other unions including those representing the Ports, Petroleum, Education and electricity Board will be joining the strike tomorrow morning.

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) members stayed off from work in five of the provinces today and have decided to take part in Wednesday’s strike.

Hospitals in remote areas in five provinces – Uva, Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Northern and North Western provinces were affected today.  

A report from the Monaragala district said that OPD as well as the clinics were closed today causing a severe impact on the patients. A total of 109 doctors in the district stayed away from work.

Thirty specialists attached to hospitals in the district and 20 interns reported to work in the Monaragala District.

The strike also crippled health services in the Anuradhapura district. At the Eppawala Divisional Hospital, patients who had arrived at the OPD to obtain treatment were left frustrated after being turned away. Many knew that the strike was going to take place but had arrived at the hospital in case it was called off at the last minute. A hospital spokesman said that clinics and OPD facilities at the hospital were not functioning but that emergency treatment and emergency surgeries were being conducted without any disruption. 

Union representatives on Monday met with President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake and other officials, but they failed to reach an agreement to call off the strike.

However, the union members were told that the officials would convey their concerns to President Ranil Wickremesinghe and get back to them. However as at Tuesday noon there was no response from the government.

Ahead of the strike the Railway General Manager said that the Railway services have been declared as essential service and anybody keeping away from duties would have to give a detailed explanation for reasons for staying away.

Meanwhile, several trade unions held protests in Colombo today in support of the trade union action ahead of tomorrow's island-wide strike. Postal trade unions held a protest in front of the Postal Department head office while workers from the Ceylon Bank Employees' Union held a protest in front of Lake House. 

Images from the Eppawala Divisional Hospital - Pix by Thisara Samal

Protests by postal trade unions and bank employees - Pix by Akila Jayawardana