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Minister of Mass Communication, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar described the token strike launched by a few Postal Trade Unions as an unsuccessful bid to attain ulterior political aims under the guise of fighting for worker rights by putting forward problems already solved as unresolved.

Speaking at the opening of a new communication locale affiliated to the Gelioya Post Office in the Kandy District the minister said wild cat strikes of this nature would seriously affect the country's future economic and social development.

The time has come for the public to take a correct decision about these opportunistic trade union actions, he said.

The Minister said the communication locale programme launched by the government was designed to add modern communication facilities to the 200 year old Postal Department and bring its productivity benefits to the people in the remotest parts of the country.

The Postal Department which was earmarked for privatisation by the previous regime had been saved and re-organised to compete effectively with the private sector by the Ranil Wickremesinghe government.

The counsel and ideas and views necessary for this re-organisation was obtained from Postal employees and trade unions themselves. For the first time in the history of the Postal Department the government is maintaining a constant dialogue with all the Postal Unions to resolve professional problems confronting postal workers, the minister said.

High ranking officials and the Postmaster General of the Postal Department and a Senior Ministry official had been appointed for this purpose. The Committee has been already able to resolve some of the long-standing problems of the postal employees.

Issues concerning promotions, salary scales of postal employees and problems of substitute employees have been resolved and streamlined. At a time like this when all problems were being attended, it was totally unjustified to launch strikes on flimsy grounds", the minister said.

One of the so-called three major demands put forward by striking unions was granting of salary increments to postal employees.

But the government had already taken a firm decision on this. During his meetings with Postal Unions recently he had categorically stated that a fair salary increase would be granted to postal employees in the next budget. This decision of the government would be hailed by the entire workforce in the Postal Department.

The Minister said the second demand put forward was the release of state funds for granting distress loans. The government had already provided Rs. 190 million for granting distress loans to postal employees during this year and the Treasury has approved another Rs. 40 million for additional payment for granting distress loans.

The third demand was the solution of unresolved problems in the Postal Department.

This had been addressed through a constant dialogue with postal workers and unions. Only a limited number of problems were outstanding in this area to be attended.

In this context the token strike launched by certain unions could never be justified as a strike to win 'just' demands.

It was a strike launched at the behest of some political leaders to realise an agenda of certain political parties and groups.

It was futile to resort to strikes and sabotage when ample avenues were open to resolve outstanding issues through negotiation.

Minister of Registration of Land Ownership, Lucky Jayawardena and Acting Post Master General, Sherwin Senadheera also spoke.

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