Trade unions launch protest campaigns and strikes demanding relief and early elections

Unions vow to cripple essential services as they will resort to tough trade union action today (01) in protest of the government’s failure to hold elections on time and government decisions negatively affecting the general public. 

State sector employees representing over 40 unions will take part in today’s action. They are protesting against high taxes, increased electricity tariff, rising cost of living and the delay in conducting Local Government elections.

Security has been stepped up at the Fort Railway station, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and other government buildings. 

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said it will support the trade union action and doctors are to take part in the professional protest to be held at noon.

GMOA’s Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said an internal memo has been sent to all members to stay away from private practice today.

However, the GMOA will take part in protest campaigns, but would not be on strike today.

Principals and teachers have been asked to wear black bands and if possible, to wear black attire when they report to schools today. Accordinlgly teachers were seen dressed in black arriving in schools this morning..

General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Union Joseph Stalin said the union has asked its members to display black flags within school premises as well.

Port workers  started a 24-hour work to rule campaign from 7.00 am today and unions representing port employees said the action will have an impact on daily operations and will cause delays. 

"Our action is similar to a One Day Match and the Test match is yet to come", Niroshan Gorakanage Joint Convener for the Port Trade Unions said. 

Several bank branches remained closed today due to the strike. In many the branches a notice was posted saying the banks will remain close and only the ATM machines will function. 

The Ceylon Electricity Board Union said that their union members too would join the strike with services coming to a halt.

Meanwhile, public transport too will face delays and disruptions today.  Convenor of the Railway Trade Union Alliance S.P.Vithanage said railway employees will take part in a protest march outside railways headquarters.

Telecom employees island-wide will also join the trade union action, the Telecom Employees Union warned.

“Today will mark the beginning of a series of trade union actions. More protests, demonstrations, and reporting sick will continue in the coming days. We will pressure the government until our demands are met,” said trade union activist Ananda Palitha.

According to the Trade Union Coordination Centre, today’s trade union action is to pressure the government to lower bank interest rates, to hold elections on time,  removal of the PAYE tax, to provide Rs.20,000 as cost of living allowance, to address the medicine shortage in state hospitals, to bring down electricity tariffs, fuel and gas prices, to pay pensions on time and to continue Samurdhi/elders allowances.

Today’s action is taking place amidst a gazette issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring a number of services ‘essential’.

Public transport 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 are presently declared as essential services on Monday.

The same gazette stated that provision and maintenance of facilities for transport services by road, rail or air, including roads, bridges, culverts, airports, ports and railway lines has also been declared as essential services.

Petroleum, electricity, and health services were previously declared as essential services.

All services connected to the supply of electricity, the supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel, and all services in connection with the maintence, care feeding, and treatment of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and dispensaries were made essential earlier.

University academic staff too will take part in today’s trade union action. The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations said they will join other professionals and not report to work today.  

University Executive Officers’ Association said it will extend its support for further action if the government fails to remove the tax on hard-earned income and to reduce the high interest imposed on bank loans. They charged that the government has failed to provide a cost-of-living allowance during an economic crisis.

Though Chairmen of both the Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank have assured that their employees will not take part in today’s protest, unions said the banking sector will join today’s protest, especially against the PAYE tax increase. 

CEB employees protesting at Kurunegala 

Banks closed : A notice posted outside a state bank

Protest outside the Ports Authority 

A protest outside the Lady Ridgeway Hospital Colombo 

A protest outside the Govt Printing Press

Hotel Employees protest in Colombo 

Pix by M.A. Pushpakumara ,  Akila Jayawardena and Nilan Maligaspe