Post offices shut as trade unions commence token strike

Post offices throughout the country were shut today after postal trade unions launched a 48-hour token strike from midnight yesterday over several key demands. 

United Postal Trade Union's Front President Chinthaka Bandara told the Sunday Times that about 21, 000 employees attached to the Postal Department were on strike, resulting in the closure of most of the 3410 post offices, 640 sub post offices and over 100 controling offices in the country. 

The main demand of the striking postal workers are that the Government shelve plans to convert old buildings housing several post offices including in Galle, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy to tourist hotels. Trade unions are also demanding that authorities take steps to reform the department's service constitution and resolve several other management issues. 

Photos below are from the Hatton post office.

Pics by G.Kishanthan 

 

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