Railway strike called off
The railway strike launched for seven days by the Railway Trade Union Alliance led by Railway Engine Drivers Union was called off yesterday after the government and strikers came to a compromise that included declaring the Sri Lanka Railways, education and health services as closed services.
The termination of the trade union action follows a discussion held last morning between the Cabinet sub committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena chaired by Special Assignment Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama with the representatives of the railway trade unions at the Special Assignments Ministry at Sethsiripaya. Thousands of railway commuters had to undergo severe hardships due to the stoppage of train services since last Thursday (7). Cabinet spokesman, Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told the media at the weekly Cabinet news briefing that the two parties came to an agreement to make the three vital services in the State sector to be declared as ‘closed services’ facilitating to provide employees in these three sectors salary increases and other benefits unaffected to other government services.
“We decided to continue further discussions with Railway TUS. Until we find a sustainable solution to the problems of railway employees, examinations to recruit railway employees and recruitments will be suspended. All administrative issues will also be sorted out after discussing with relevant officials and trade unions. No disciplinary action will be taken against railway employees for resorting to trade union action,” Minister Senaratne added. The proposals related to the calling of the strike will be presented to the Cabinet next Tuesday for necessary action including the declaration of Sri Lanka Railway Service, Education Service and Health Service as closed services. Minister Senaratne said if salary increases were of similar categories of other government services and as a result the government will have to give salary increases to all of them which will be a huge burden to the State coffers.