Railway unions halt strike action on Thursdays

Railway unions have decided to suspend the strike action which had been planned to take place on Thursday's of every week.

"We decided to call off the strike since it would be an obstruction to the law," Indika Dodangoa, Secretary of the Locomotive Engine Operators’ Union told Times Online.

However, he noted that unions would convene at 10 am today and decide on future matters which includes trade union action against the decision to declare Railways as an essential service.

Mr. Dodangoda said the government has failed to resolve grading and salary anomalies in their sector thereby inconveniencing railway employees. "Some retired employees have not received their pension for nearly two years," he claimed.

Rail unions had decided to engage in a strike on the Thursday's of every week after talks with the Finance and Transport Ministries ended in a stalemate.

However, last Friday, the Transport Ministry recruited retired railway officers in order to establish a 'Special Emergency Transport Unit'. These officers will be deployed to work in the event of a strike by unions.