TRADE UNION ACTION PUT OFF FOR A WEEK
We have been graded under the ‘Basic Technology Service’ and a new salary structure had been recommended by the 6/2006 circular. But the SLR has failed to put us on the new grade and pay our recommended salary for the past five years.
KAMAL PEIRIS
The Sri Lanka Railways Technology Assistants Union (SLRTAU) has postponed its scheduled trade union action by another week following a discussion it had with Transport Minister Kumara Welgama on Monday, a senior source of the union said.
The SLRTAU was to launch trade union action on Monday regarding two demands that would have crippled the railway services.
“We had decided to keep away from work on Monday after repeated requests to grant our legitimate demands were overlooked for more than six years,” General Secretary of the SLRTAU, Kamal Peiris said.
The main demand is to remove the salary anomalies of Technology Assistants that had cropped up following the release of the Public Administration circular 6/2006, he said.
‘We have been graded under the ‘Basic Technology Service’ and a new salary structure had been recommended by the 6/2006 circular. But the SLR has failed to put us on the new grade and pay our recommended salary for the past five years despite repeated requests. Besides, we are doing a technology related service though we have been given the posts of Management Assistants which is unfair and incorrect,” Mr. Peiris said.
He said Transport Minister Welgama promised to solve the issue within a week after appraising the Salaries and Cadre Commission.
He added that the railway engine drivers union who also participated in the discussion was able to resolve their issues with Minister Welgama at the discussion which related to their official name.
Mr. Peiris said Technology Assistants and Engine Drivers will resort to trade union action if the ministry fails to deliver a satisfactory solution to their demands in a week as promised.
There are nearly 4,000 Technology Assistants and 400 Engine Drivers in the SLR service.