Archives

Joint CTB TU Federation wants debate

by Ranga Jayasuriya

The Joint CTB Trade Union Federation yesterday challenged the Transport Minister Thilak Marapana for an open debate on the privatisation of cluster bus companies warning it would throw the public transport service into "disarray".

"Of course inefficiency in the management has posed serious problems in daily operations, but we have recommendations for them and to run the CTB as a welfare service", Federation's President Somaweera Chandrasiri told a press conference held at the Opposition Leader's office yesterday.

He warned the privatisation would endanger the welfare facilities provided by the cluster companies such as bus service in the night, emergency service, school buses and job security of 45,000 workforce.

"In contrast to the beautiful words of the Government, payments for the share transaction of the companies are yet to be paid", he said.

Pointing to the peopalisation of CTB in the early 1990s and the privatisation of assembling plants in Werahera and Ekala, which he called "a complete disaster", Channdrasiri expressed fears that the same fate would befall on the cluster bus companies.

He said the trade unions had gone before court against privatisation and informed the public of the "impending danger".

"The President intervened on our request and ordered a report on the share transaction", he said.

Chandrasiri said the People's Alliance Government collapsed while a Cabinet paper was under discussion to set up the CTB by amalgamating cluster bus companies.

"Unless the CTB would have now in operation". 

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager