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Railway workers' demands to be considered

by Rajmi Manatunga

Transport Minister Tilak Marapana has agreed to extend the deadline for railway employees to submit their choice on the newly established Railways Authority by three months during which period their demands will be considered.

The decision has been made at a discussion between the Minister, Authority Chairman P.H. Manatunga and leaders of station masters', locomotive engineers', drivers' and controllers' unions of the Department railway trade unions.

In terms of Clause 11 of the Railways Authority Act, all employees of the Railways Department are required to submit their choice whether to join the new Authority as its employees or continue as employees of the Railways Department or retire with a pension, before September 1.

However, with the decision, they will be given time till December 1 to take up one of the three options during which Transport authorities have pledged to find ways to meet their demands and clarify the employee's rights under the new Authority.

Granting all privileges, holidays and salary increments of government servants to railway employees, an extra 75 per cent salary hike, trade union representation at the policy making level of the Authority and a pension and compensation scheme are among the demands handed over to the Minister.

Convenor of the United Alliance of Railway Trade Unions Amarasena Weddage said the unions were satisfied with the discussions although they were in favour of neither an Authority nor privatisation of the service. "However, we will be alert whether the Minister stands by his word and take stern action if he overlooks the matter," he warned.

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